BMW drops diesels in favor of plug-in hybridsBMW drops diesels in favor of plug-in hybrids

UPDATE: BMW has clarified its statement to Green Car Reports in an email. “The final decision as to whether or not the BMW X5 diesel variant will come to the U.S. market has not been made. BMW of North America continues to monitor customer preferences and is prepared to adjust the product portfolio accordingly.”
 
BMW is the latest automaker to eliminate diesels from its U.S. lineup, at least, and focus on plug-in hybrids and electric cars.
A BMW spokesman told Green Car Reports on Tuesday that it will drop diesels from its lineup for 2019.
“We’re putting all our eggs in the PHEV basket,” said BMW spokesman Alexander Schmuck.
BMW currently sells five plug-in hybrid models in the U.S. Those include the 3-Series, 5-Series, 7-Series sedans, the X5 SUV, and the i8 coupe.
DON’T MISS: 2021 BMW X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid will have more range, 6 cylinders
Most of BMW’s plug-in hybrids are designated by an “e” at the end of their model names, such as the BMW 330e, 530e, and X5 xDrive40e. Those models on the market today have only 14 to 16 miles of electric range, according to their EPA ratings.
Last week BMW revealed a new plug-in version of the X5 for 2021, the X5 xDrive45e, which may have up to 50 miles of electric range with larger batteries and a new engine.
Finding enough space for batteries has been a challenge in BMW’s plug-in hybrids, but a company supplier recently showed a prototype BMW i3 with three times the battery capacity in the same footprint of the original, which could allow BMW to pack far more range into its plug-in hybrids.
CHECK OUT: Supplier tests compact 100-kwh battery pack in BMW i3
The new battery is expected to be used in the company’s upcoming iNext electric sedan, which is due to be revealed at the end of the week.
The spokesman also said the upcoming X5 xDrive45e will use an inline-6, which will be easier for the company to meet California’s SULEV clean-air standards.

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