BMW joins the lithium mild hybrid game

The BMW 7 Series ActiveHybrid

BMW will debut the new 7 Series ActiveHybrid at the Paris Auto Show next week, a vehicle that was developed out of a joint venture with Mercedes Benz and the S400 hybrid. However, while much of the hybrid technology is the same, the gasoline engines and gearboxes are quite different according to Edmunds.

Yes, this is another luxury hybrid that most of us will never consider purchasing, but it is also another example of the growing interest in lithium-powered mild hybrid powertrains. And, soon, such lithium powertrains will make their way into much cheaper hybrid vehicles. Is that not progress?