Coolant question...

[miatadan]

I downloaded owners manual for i3 as I wanted more info for these cars.
It shows: 1/ Coolant reservoir for climate control, 2/ Coolant reservoir for drive

Does this only apply to i3 with range extender? For all electric I thought there be no coolant to worry about?

Dan

 

[spinball]

I was looking at this coolant reservoir under the frunk today and wondering what exactly it's for. I have the REx.

 

[RExingIT]

The engine on the REx is from a BMW scooter. It is a 2 cylinder liquid-cooled engine so that port is indeed for the coolant fill for the engine.

 

[miatadan]

Still no answer between difference between bev and rex version for coolant needed... I thought the only maintenance for electric vehicle would be braking system, washer fluid ?
Coolant I thought would not be needed for BEV as it is a heat pump + air conditioning?

The appeal to me of a all electric car instead of plug in hybrid is a lot less maintenance than a ice vehicle - no exhaust, no catalytic converter, no engine coolant, no oil changes etc

Dan

 

[alohart]

According to BMW's 06_I01 High-voltage Components and 08_I01 Heating and AC Systems manuals, the 2 coolant tanks in the frunk contain coolant for the passenger climate control system and the drive system. The passenger climate control system circulates coolant through the heat exchanger in the passenger compartment to heat or cool the passenger compartment. This coolant's temperature is increased or decreased by a heat pump and/or a resistance heating element.

The drive system coolant cools all the drive system components including the electric drive motor/generator, the charging electronics, and, if so equipped, the REx engine and its generator.

So both BEV and REx models include the same 2 coolant tanks in the frunk. But the cooling requirements of a BEV or even a REx are much less than that of an ICE vehicle, so the coolants in these cooling circuits probably don't require much maintenance.

 

[jadnashuanh]

Interesting...

One thing that tends to pollute antifreeze in an ICE is the inevitable, but small contamination of exhaust gasses and oil into it. Using a heat pump or resistance heaters, there should be none of that, making it last much longer.