The upcoming electric vehicles from BMW rely on a discreet device known as the 'Heart of Joy'.
The secret is in a small black box.
Last November, I got into the back seat of a four-door electric sedan, driven by test driver and 24-hour racer Jens Klingmann, at the BMW Performance Driving Center in Greer, South Carolina. The atmosphere was chilly, and beneath the five-point harnesses, the roll cage, and the camouflaged body of the vehicle, there was a surprising traveling companion: a tiny black box called the "Heart of Joy."
The name is intriguing for a set of technologies that powered my thrilling three laps around a 1.7-mile circuit. The Heart of Joy represents an intriguing future for the German brand, which aims to be recognized as the "Ultimate Driving Machine" in this new era of electrification.
The car we drove is called the Vision Driving Experience (VDX), a unique model specifically designed to test this magical black box, as well as the future features of BMW's Neue Klasse platform. The VDX uses fans to adhere it to the track to enhance traction at high speeds. Inside the vehicle, the noise from the fans is so intense that it's hard to hear anything but a roar as we navigate the circuit at speeds nearing 90 mph, even though the vehicle itself is mostly silent.
With Klingmann's skill at the wheel, the tires complain as they approach the limit of their grip. There is a noticeable reduction in the typical squeal from BMW brakes since most of the braking work is handled by that small black box. The Heart of Joy is an electronic control unit (ECU) that combines driving dynamics and powertrain control into a single system. About the size of 20 centimeters on each side, this box will serve as the control module for the upcoming electrified vehicles in the Neue Klasse, which is set to begin rolling out later this year.
Developed in-house by BMW engineers, this system is unusual, given that most manufacturers tend to integrate multiple components from different suppliers and create software that connects them. This leads to a homogeneity in driving experiences across various brands, as they utilize the same suppliers. In contrast, BMW has challenged its engineers to differentiate their electric vehicles from the competition by creating a unique computational system that enhances various driving dynamics across its range of models, from SUVs to sports cars.
Christian Thalmeer, senior driving dynamics engineer at BMW, raised the dilemma of how driving pleasure should manifest in the era of electrification. The VDX stands out for its incredible torque of 13,269 lb-ft and a 25 percent increase in efficiency thanks to its integrated brake and energy recovery system. Although the manufacturer did not disclose all the specifications of the test vehicle, they revealed that this new system is ten times faster than the ECUs available on the market, boosting active brake and stability control.
The system can use regenerative braking to bring the vehicle to a complete stop without the driver having to touch the pedal, resulting in greater stability at the limit since it can brake each wheel individually, enhancing grip and achieving 60 percent more efficient recovery. As a single computing system manages everything from driving dynamics to the power of each wheel, it also reduces latency in the vehicle's response and minimizes wear on brakes and tires.
Thalmeer mentioned that this new system can redistribute power and deceleration between the front and rear axles, as well as among each wheel, to maximize recovery and vehicle stability, a process he describes as the "joy of stopping."
The Heart of Joy was conceived over a three-year period and has undergone more than 7,500 hours of testing by engineers and race drivers. The goal is for future BMWs to maintain the distinctive character of the brand and not resemble other vehicles in the market that use more conventional models. The creation of a single computer also facilitates over-the-air updates. Although BMW has conducted internal developments in the past, this approach is particularly unique in a sector that relies on external suppliers for critical components.
BMW's CTO, Frank Weber, recalled that the challenges faced 25 years ago in launching the 7 Series led the automaker to develop robust processes for advanced digital technologies. By incorporating part of the internal production, BMW can minimize some risks associated with a global supply chain that has become increasingly complicated.
If the brief yet exhilarating experience I had in the VDX is any indication, the Heart of Joy underscores BMW's roots as the "Ultimate Driving Machine" and promises a future of truly dynamic electric driving.
