I didn't see any threads on this yet...BMW just unveiled two EVs (well, an EV and a PHV). BMW debuts two electric cars in Germany
Thanks for the article. Looks cool. I haven't seen anything impressive from BMW for mpg/phv/ev yet. With the CAFE standards increasing, BMW will have no choice. I look forward to seeing them meet the new CAFE standards.
I remember back in 2006, just after I have got my first Prius, reading BMW Managing Director saying a hybrid electric car is a joke...
Who knows how they'll turn out or sell, but I think it's good to supply such cars for the luxury market. People so often associate these cars with "sacrifice" of one kind or another, and these may allow people to still get a really comfortable ride, power, and status along with the EV/hybrid.
Lexus and Infinity have already proven that luxury hybrids are not "sacrifice." Is a Lexus RX450h cheap? Is an Infinity M hybrid cheap? Not exactly. It's time for BMW to catch up with Lexus and Infinity, who are leaving BMW in the dust when it comes to being ready for the future.
I came across an article tonight on EVs and hybrids that referenced people's desire for satellite alert systems and cell phone connections, implying that people buy gas cars in part because they want these fun toys. However, the implication was also that fuel-efficient cars lack them. Hello, my car's like the bridge of the damned Enterprise. Satellite, cell phone, Bluetooth iPod, LKA, DRCC...anyone who thinks they have to drive a featureless plastic box to get good fuel efficiency is very incorrect.
2013 is not that long of a wait for the i3. Here is some other information BMW i3 Concept - First Look - Automobile Magazine
CAFE penalties for low corporate fuel economy don't seem to impact MB and BMW the way they do mainstream auto builders. There's a mind set with these manufacturers that it doesn't matter ... as though if you can't afford our cars with low fuel economy, then you don't deserve to own it anyway. That said, I hope BMW makes more than a concept out of it. Otherwise, I'll just have to use my 'concept' dollars to buy it ... and my 'concept' PV to recharge it. .
BMW pays fines for not meeting cafe, but these get higher with the new rules. There are also rules in europe about co2. User choice as well as these fines are pushing bmws green drive. They started with the 2-mode, which did not work out. They have the activehybrid7, and I 've seen 2, the same number of teslas that poke around my hood. The i3 and i8 will likely be very low production numbers cars, but places for them to develop technology. The plan is 2013 and 2014 respecively. The carbon fiber reinforced plastic is an interesting technology, that seems to be a child of ev1 ideas. The activehybrid7 hybrid system is doing better than bmw and mercedes expected (same hybrid motor and battery tech in the S400 hybrid). We can hope these trickle down to the 3 series, bmw is already well into development of the activehybrid 5.
There is a mailing list sign up for the 1 Series EV field test at their site. Uniquely BMW - Efficient Dynamics - Explore ActiveE - BMW North America Doesn't BMW offer and eco trim or package on their cars, at least in Europe?
