BMW has rounded off a year-long winter testing program with the i5, the first all-electric 5 Series. This testing validated the powertrain’s and heating system’s ability to perform at extremely low temperatures and provided valuable data for fine-tuning the torque delivery and unique stability control systems.

The electric BMW 5 Series has had to prove itself during a year-long winter testing program, beginning in February 2022 with a road trip from the Munich factory to the brand’s testing facility in Arjeplog, Sweden, where a lot of manufacturers test their upcoming models in wintery conditions.

New-gen stability control

For BMW, this winter testing was about calibrating the electric powertrain right, even in extremely low temperatures. In addition, the low-grip surfaces covered with snow or ice provide more info about the power delivery and stability systems at much lower speeds, facilitating data collection. And, of course, the heating system is also put through its paces.

With the i5, BMW is using a new generation of stability control, which debuted in the i3S in 2018, with a near-actuator wheel slip limitation, which can cut and supply the power to the wheels much faster than traditional traction control systems, improving control and traction on ice and snow.

And this system seems to be working fine, with BMW noting: “The more challenging the conditions, the more impressive were the speed and precision of the control systems in the fully electric version of the new BMW 5 Series Sedan.” Of course, we wouldn’t expect the brand to be any less optimistic about its upcoming product, but the wording does seem quite enthusiastic.

Coming in October

BMW lifted part of the technical details of its upcoming i5 a few weeks ago when the brand confirmed the model’s arrival in saloon and estate guises, with an M Performance model also on the agenda. The electric 5 Series saloon and its combustion counterpart will be unveiled in October, with the Touring model expected in early 2024.