BMW 5 - Manual (Page 33)

BMW
Media
Information
11/2009
Page 33
the electronic engine control unit calculates the optimum point for shifting
gears in the interest of maximum fuel economy.
Brake Energy Regeneration including a recuperation display.
Likewise featured as standard, Brake Energy Regeneration, ensuring
intelligent management of energy flow in the car, concentrates the generation
of electric power for the on-board network on overrun and the application
of the brakes. This takes the usual load off the engine and ensures highly
efficient generation of electric energy largely without any additional
consumption of fuel. As long as the engine is pulling the car, on the other
hand, the generator is generally disconnected in order to provide more power
for that Sheer Driving Pleasure so typical of BMW.
In the new BMW 5 Series Sedan the instrument cluster is supplemented by
a recuperation display. This graphic display next to the current consumption
indicator at the bottom of the rev counter presents the generation of electric
power in overrun and while applying the brakes, the blue arrow being activated
as long as Brake Energy Regeneration feeds energy generated without the
consumption of fuel into the on-board network.
Electric Power Steering and on-demand management of ancillary
units for reduced consumption of energy.
On-demand management of ancillary units and Electric Power Steering
serve to further refine energy management in the car. The coolant pump
masterminded as a function of current demand, for example, consumes
far less energy than a conventional system permanently running under full
capacity. The pressure-controlled fuel pump, the use of on-demand pump
technology on the suspension control system and the map-controlled oil
pump on the BMW 528i, BMW 523i and BMW 535i, in turn, also help to
maximise the use and consumption of energy.
Introduction of a new steering system for the BMW 5 Series likewise helps to
boost efficiency. The servo motor on EPS Electric Power Steering is activated
only when power assistance is really required or is desired by the driver.
These technologies reduce the demand for electric energy, with the amount
of primary energy converted into electricity by the generator dropping
substantially in the process. And with the loss of power on a conventional
a/c compressor also being reduced significantly by intelligent control, the
compressor on the new BMW 5 Series Sedan is separated by a magnetic
clutch from the drive belt as soon as the air conditioning is deactivated.