BMW i3 Plug-In Electric Concept Car

Michael Kwan — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 15:30:08 +0000

When you think about BMW, you’re much more likely to think about the “Ultimate Driving Experience” that you’d get with a vehicle like the M3, but the German automaker is trying to make some strides with the environmental crowd, too. At the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, the BMW i3 concept coupe was revealed to the public. The plug-in electric car is a compact coupe, but it almost has the appearance of a shrunken down crossover.

Michael Graham Richard of Treehugger says that the i3 “looks like a cross between a BMW SUV, a VW Golf, and a Nissan crossover.” I’m not sure about the Golf part, but I definitely see some Rogue and X1 action going in here, except it’s clearly meant to be a compact coupe.

As far as the technology involved, there is a BMW electric motor generating up to 125 kW/170 hp and a peak torque of 250 Newton meters (184 lb-ft). The concept vehicle is rear-wheel drive and the lithium-ion battery is stored under the floor, both of which should help with handling. The estimated range is 160 kilometers (100 miles).

The interior is unique with a main touchscreen panel in the center console. They’ve used “a mixture of leather, wood, wool and other renewable raw materials here. No word on pricing and availability. For now this BMW vehicle is just a concept and it may not even ever make it to production, but at least it indicates that BMW is actively exploring and expanding on its electric car efforts.

[Source]

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RWD BMW i3 City Car Proves Electrics Can Drift, Have Fun (Video)

Michael Kwan — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 01:03:27 +0000

Just because you want to get an electric car doesn’t mean you have to leave “fun” behind. Check out this video of the upcoming BMW i3 in action. It’s a fully electric city car that also happens to be rear-wheel-drive. You know what that means?

Drifting in the snow!

Even though it’s going to have much less power and prestige than its more expensive BMW i8 counterpart, it looks like the i3 is having a lot more fun. It’s a shame, at least from my end of things, that the i3 doesn’t look all that appealing. It’s just not very interesting (and neither is the rumored $40,000 asking price).

The i3 isn’t set to hit dealers until 2013 (possibly as a 2014 model year), but it will reportedly have 150 horses coming out of that electric motor. This is aided by a lighter weight construction with an aluminium body and a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic passenger compartment.

[YouTube via GMotors]

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New BMW i-Series Focuses on Playing Nice with Mother Nature

Michael Kwan — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:55:59 +0000

Looks like the buzz word of the day is “green.” Or maybe it’s “eco-friendly.” Whatever the case, it seems that every automaker wants to do something that can be perceived as environmentally friendly, and BMW is doing that by launching a new series of vehicles to be sold under the “i” sub-brand.

I’m not entirely sure if the German automaker is going to run into some legal concerns with a certain iCompany by taking this move (the iDrive did launch before the iPod), the gist of it is that the i-Series vehicles are focused on “premium mobility” that’s “good for our planet” while still being “good for us.” The push is toward electric powertrains and composite construction.

Previously known as the Megacity, the BMW i3 is the among the first to launch in this line. The BMW i8 (once known as Vision EfficientDynamics) is the other. These should not be confused by, say the BMW 325i or the 128i. You see, the lower-case “i” is at the end of those names. That’s totally different. No worries about consumer confusion there!

NEW BMW SUB-BRAND: BMW i

Munich.The new BMW sub-brand focused on developing sustainable mobility solutions has been launched. “BMW i represents a new movement in premium mobility. With the introduction of this new sub-brand, the BMW Group reaffirms its leadership as the most innovative and sustainable premium car company. The products and services have been conceived around a revolutionary approach: purpose designed and purpose built for sustainable, premium mobility.
It’s a new day in our industry; a new era for individual mobility. This is BMW i – Born Electric.” said Ian Robertson, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales and Marketing, in Munich on Monday.

In a first move, two models will be launched under the new sub-brand from 2013 – the BMW i3 and BMW i8. The BMW Group will also significantly expand its range of mobility services over the years ahead. To achieve this, a Venture Capital company was founded in New York City, BMW i Ventures, with an investment totalling up to 100 million US dollars.

“BMW i offers visionary cars and services, inspiring design, and an entirely new concept of premium mobility – all with a focus on sustainability”, explained Robertson. The BMW i brand comprises vehicles and services developed since 2007 as part of project i, a BMW Group think tank exploring sustainable mobility solutions. It is the BMW Group’s response to changing customer needs, including increasing demand for alternative drive trains, such as electric drive systems and hybrids. There is a widespread desire in megacities for solutions which intelligently combine the benefits of various mobility concepts in a single package.

Revolutionary vehicle concepts

“With BMW i, we are building on the success and strength of our core brand,” emphasised Robertson. The BMW i3– previously known as the Megacity Vehicle – will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas to be driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8, meanwhile, is based on the BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept study. Its plug-in hybrid drive blends the sporting ability of a high-performance machine with the fuel consumption and emissions of a small car.

Both models are based on a revolutionary construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but extremely lightweight carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). “Both cars have been designed specifically for their respective alternative drive systems. We used the innovative architecture and CFRP to cancel out practically all of the extra weight added by the batteries. For our customers this means superior driving dynamics combined with significantly increased range using electric power,” explains Klaus Draeger, BMW Board member responsible for development.

BMW i8 to be built in Leipzig

Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig plant. Around 400 million euros will be invested in new plant facilities and some 800 jobs will be created up to 2013. Development and production synergies will be achieved through both vehicles using the same component sets for the electric motors, power electronics, and high-voltage lithium-ion batteries.

A range of vehicle-independent services

An additional range of mobility services – which can also be used independently of the cars – will be an integral component of BMW i. This will allow the creation of a new, profitable area of business over the long term and attract new customers to the company’s brands.

“Mobility requirements are changing in rapidly expanding megacities,” adds Ian Robertson. “Our commitment to car-enabled mobility services, like BMW ConnectedDrive, will be significantly expanded under BMW i. We’ll also grow our car-related premium mobility services. What’s truly groundbreaking is that we’ll begin offering car-independent premium mobility services. BMW i aims to provide customised mobility solutions across a seamless network of premium products and premium services.” The focus is on solutions which will improve usage of existing parking spaces, as well as intelligent navigation systems with local information, intermodal route planning, and premium car-sharing.

In addition to services developed in-house, the BMW Group is pursuing collaborations with partner companies and exploring strategic capital investments in providers of mobility services. To this end, the venture capital company BMW i Ventures has the goal to expand the range of products and services offered by BMW i in the long term by taking stakes in highly innovative service providers.

New York-based MyCityWay is the first company in which BMW i Ventures has taken a stake. Of the partnership, Ian Robertson said, “I am thrilled to announce that we have just signed our first strategic partnership with MyCityWay. As a mobile app, MyCityWay provides users with information on public transportation, parking availability, and local entertainment for over 40 cities in the US. Another 40 cities will be part of the global rollout, including Munich, of course.”

http://www.mycityway.com/

Ends

The BMW Group

The BMW Group is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the world with its BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce brands. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 24 production facilities in 13 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

The BMW Group achieved a global sales volume of approximately 1.29 million automobiles and over 87,000 motorcycles for the 2009 financial year. Revenues totalled euro 50.68 billion. At 31 December 2009, the company employed a global workforce of approximately 96,000 associates.

The success of the BMW Group has always been built on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy. As a result of its efforts, the BMW Group has been ranked industry leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes for the last six years.

[via BMW UK]

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Mobile Magazine » i3

BMW i3 Plug-In Electric Concept Car

RWD BMW i3 City Car Proves Electrics Can Drift, Have Fun (Video)

New BMW i-Series Focuses on Playing Nice with Mother Nature