We’re reporting LIVE from London where the BMW Group debuted the series version of its innovative electric vehicle, the BMW i3.
The technologically advanced car was simultaneously unveiled across three continents in New York, London and Beijing.
The BMW i3 is the first series-produced model by BMW i, where the German car maker’s first all-electric hatchback. This premium electric vehicle has been developed with an estimated investment of Rs 200 crore (€ 2 billion) by the German luxury car manufacturer in to research and development of e-mobility and sustainability.
The four-seater hatchback use the lightweight, durable and crash-safe carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) abundantly, including in the passenger compartment, which is rare in volume car production. The zero-emission car comes with driver assistance systems and mobility services from BMW Connected Drive and the 360° ELECTRIC services, developed specially for BMW i, to enhance everyday use.
The BMW i3 comes with an electric motor that generates a maximum output of 170 PS and peak torque of 250 Nm. Power flows to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. The battery gives the car a range, in everyday conditions, of 130 to 160 kilometres when fully charged from a conventional domestic power socket, and reportedly can be charged completely in about an hour.
The price is estimated to be about Rs 28 lakh onwards, which is about a 20 per cent premium over the base version of the BMW 3 series in Europe.
Here’s a look at the official release shared by BMW:
‘Range of 130 to 160 kilometres generally quite sufficient
The vehicle achieves a range of 130 to 160 kilometres. The BMW Group’s experience with test fleets of MINI E and BMW ActiveE cars has shown that a range of 130 to 160 km is quite sufficient for the vast majority of drivers. The average distance driven daily worldwide is no more than 64 km.
If desired, the BMW i3 is also available with a range-extender, which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level enroute, as soon as it falls below a specified value. This is performed by a two-cylinder gasoline engine with 34 hp (25 kW), mounted adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car’s maximum range in day-to-day driving to around 300 kilometres.
Low running costs and strong global interest
The BMW i3 will be released in Germany and other European markets in November 2013. The market launch of the BMW i3 in USA, China, Japan and several other markets will take place in the first half of 2014. The base price for the BMW i3 has been set at 34,950 Euros in Germany. If customers opt to purchase the Range Extender as an extra, the price in Germany will amount to 39,450 Euros.
The vehicle’s running costs are comparatively low: Over a period of three years, the maintenance and running costs for a BMW i3 are about 40% lower than those of a highly-economical 320dA registered in Germany. In other countries, figures may even be lower, depending on the level of subsidies available for electric vehicles.
Public interest in the BMW i3 and BMW i overall is extremely high and the response has been very positive: BMW i already has more than 1.2 million fans worldwide on Facebook, and more than 90,000 people have already requested a test-drive with the BMW i3.
BMW i3 sets a new benchmark in lightweight construction
The BMW i3 features a large number of technological innovations – such as a carbon-fibre passenger cell and a chassis made of aluminium – and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction. With a curb weight of 1,195 kilogrammes, it is lighter than most vehicles in the compact segment, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants.
Its low weight contributes to the agility and dynamic performance of the BMW i3. The car’s electric drive-train generates output of 125 kW/170 PS and peak torque of 250 Newton metres, which is immediately available from a standing start. The BMW i3 sprints from 0 to 60 km/h in 3.7 seconds and from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.2 seconds. Its top speed is limited to 150 km/h for efficiency reasons.
Sustainability throughout the value chain
Sustainability plays a vital role for the BMW Group. For example, the electricity needed for production of the BMW i3 at the Leipzig plant is generated from wind power. In addition to its CO2-free electricity supply, the plant also uses 50% less energy and 70% less water than the average for the already highly-efficient BMW production network.
Sale of BMW i vehicles via multi-channel sales model
BMW i products and services will be marketed through a multi-channel sales model, comprising authorised retail partners (BMW i agents), a multimedia Customer Interaction Centre (CIC) and an online sales platform. All sales channels will be fully integrated and customers will be able to choose their own individual customer journey. Customers can easily switch between all four channels.
With the introduction of the new online sales channel, BMW is responding to changed customer behaviour. Customers want new possibilities in how they inform themselves about products and how they purchase them. BMW i Partners will be the backbone of the BMW i sales network and the main contact point for the customer.
With its holistic „360 ° ELECTRIC“ approach, BMW i provides the customer with an extensive product and service offer designed to meet the driver’s needs. “We will support our BMW i3 customers with a comprehensive package of premium services for seamless and uncomplicated “sheer driving pleasure”, explained Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW, at the BMW i3 launch in London.
Global market for electric vehicles likely to exceed 150,000 vehicles in 2013
The global market for electric vehicles is showing positive development: After almost 93,000 electric vehicles were registered worldwide last year, a total of 150,000 units is already forecast for the current year.’
