Formula E driver Nelson Piquet Jr. takes the BMW i8 official Formula E Qualcomm Safety Car for a drifting session while some Qualcomm engineers explain the tech in the car. The modified BMW i8 is wirelessly charged by Qualcomm Halo™ technology. The wireless charging involves the i8 being parked over a resonant magnetic induction pad with electrical current flowing into the i8’s battery pack.
BMW i8 uses a plug-in hybrid system consisting of a turbocharged three-cylinder BMW TwinPower Turbo petrol engine and BMW eDrive technology in the form of an electric drive system. The 1.5-liter combustion engine develops 170 kW/231 hp and drives the rear wheels of the BMW i8, while the 96 kW/131 hp electric drive sends its power to the front wheels and allows an all-electric range of up to 35 kilometers (22 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph).
Back in 2013, we were one of the few journalists allowed to take the BMW i8 prototype on the race track.
Here is the video of the i8 drift:
