Drive modes are a common feature, but BMW is looking to bring more detailed customization to their future performance electric vehicles.
CarBuzz recently discovered a patent application filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that goes beyond current drive modes, giving drivers the ability to adjust throttle mapping and torque delivery. This allows drivers to dramatically alter the behavior of their car.
Unlike current drive modes that have fixed settings such as Sport and Eco, BMW’s system would present drivers with a graph where they could customize their own settings. It takes advantage of the greater flexibility of electric motors and the linear power delivery. Since electric powertrains use single-speed gearboxes, vehicle speed is more directly related to the accelerator-pedal position.
The proposed system by BMW is based on acceleration and speed curves. The acceleration curve mimics the throttle mapping used in internal-combustion cars, while the speed curve equalizes a certain pedal position to a certain speed. Drivers can drag the curve line along a graph displayed on the car’s touchscreen to adjust both curves. BMW’s application also suggests that the sound of their Hans Zimmer-designed EV could shift based on these adjustments.
BMW tailored EV drive mode patent image
The system has several potential benefits. By selecting non-linear speed or acceleration curves, drivers can mimic the characteristics of an internal-combustion car. This allows for the temporary disabling of the flat torque curve intrinsic to the electric motor, which can offer the peaks and valleys of a gasoline engine’s torque curve. With this system, BMW can also program cars to accelerate more gradually than they would otherwise, providing a safety net for novice drivers or those not accustomed to the sudden acceleration of performance EVs.
While not all patented ideas make it to production, BMW is planning to release electric M cars. It currently has the iX M60 and i4 M50 on the market and recently unveiled the 650-hp i7 M70. It has also teased models with more significant upgrades and a four-motor drivetrain.
