BMW has announced a launch date for it's two "i" series electric vehicles, the i8 (above) and the i3 (photo below.) They will both be launched in 2013, with production starting in late 2014. In 2014, the company reportedly expects to sell 30,000 i3s. Prices are widely expected to be astronomical, due to their all-carbon fiber bodies.
The i3 is an all-electric "city car" which will generate 100kw of power and will use regenerative braking to recapture energy the same way other hybrids do.
Above, the BMW i3 "City Car"
The i8 is expected to be a long-range, plug-in electric vehicle, and also offered as a diesel/electric hybrid. Both it and the smaller i3 "City Car" will utilize carbon fiber bodies which will make for extremely light rides and a 92 MPH top speed for the i3.
The company launched a website for it's "i" sub-brand on April 1, 2011 at www.bmw-i-usa.com.
If either model comes to production in anything like these drawings, it will surely give premium electrics like Tesla two worthy competitors.
The motive for the launch is transparent, at least to Europeans, because they know (and the car companies there know) that they are rushing to approve electric and low-emissions vehicles to meet more stringent safety standards due to kick in by mid-decade. Hence, micro cars from Aston Martin and many, many electric "city cars" for cities, some of which are also incidentally considering banning ALL internal combustion vehicles within a decade.
No comments:
Post a Comment