August 15, 2013. Copyright 2013, Graphic News. All rights reserved

BMW's electric i3 city car is a high-stakes gamble
By Neil Winton

LONDON, August 15, Graphic News:  German luxury car manufacturer BMW's new i3 electric city car will be formally launched at the biennial Frankfurt Car Show, which opens on September 12.

The i3, battery-powered with an optional petrol range-extender engine, is a huge gamble by BMW which has reportedly spent more than €2 billion on the project. Renault of France and its Japanese affiliate Nissan have allocated €4 billion to their battery-electric car projects and sales of the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf have been slow to say the least.

BMW says its i3, first of a series of new "i" brand hybrids and battery cars, was built from the ground up to be electric, so priority one was to make it much lighter. BMW has developed its own carbon fibre reinforced plastic for the bodywork and the i3 has an aluminium chassis, both lighter and stronger than traditional steels. The car's lithium ion batteries are integrated under the passenger floor for even weight distribution and lower centre of gravity, allowing BMW to claim go-cart like road holding agility. The i3 is also, claims BMW, the world's first fully networked electrically-powered car. The i3's satellite navigation is programmed to figure out if the declared destination is within the car's range, and will switch power to "economy" to ensure the car makes it. Range-anxiety will be eliminated if you opt for the auxiliary engine. This little two-cylinder petrol engine sits alongside the electric motor over the rear wheels, providing electricity when the battery runs out and raising the range to more than 320k (200 miles). Without the auxiliary motor, range is claimed to be between 130-200km (80-125 miles).

BMW has stolen a march on its premium German rivals by being first to market with an electric car. Audi plans a plug-in hybrid A3 next year and Mercedes a battery powered B class. BMW has made some extravagant and startling claims about the future of electric power. BMW board member Ian Robertson said recently that in the next four to five years battery cars will double their range, and in the next three to four years there will be more progress in battery development than in the previous 100. This conflicts with the accepted view that affordable, viable electric cars won't appear until 2025 or 2030. Others say BMW's design using carbon fibre is simply too expensive for mass produced cars. One investment bank says BMW will lose nearly €200 million annually on the i3. BMW says the project will make money from day one.

BMW has the bit between its teeth though. Next year it will launch the plug-in hybrid i8 supercar, and it has patented all the numbers from one through nine for its new "i" brand.

Industry consultants Frost & Sullivan say BMW is in for a rough ride in the first few years just like Nissan with the Leaf.

"But it will get easier as the market starts to accept electric cars. It for sure is the most innovative car of the 21st century so far," Frost & Sullivan report.

The Frankfurt Car Show closes September 22.
/ENDS
BMW i3
Electric motor – hybrid synchronous
Power – 170 hp
Torque – 250 NM
Battery – lithium ion 360v, 22 kWh
Range extender – 2-cylinder petrol 647 cc
Power – 34 hp @ 4,300 
Torque – 55 Nm @ 4,300
Emissions class – E.U. 6
Drive – rear-wheels
Gearbox – automatic one speed
Acceleration – 0-100km/h-62mph-7.2 seconds
Top Speed – 150km/h-93mph
Range – 130/200km  - 81-125 miles
Range with extender – 240-340km-150-210 miles
C02 – 0g/km locally 
Charging time (to 80%) – 30 minutes at 50 kW fast charge/8 hours domestic
Suspension – MacPherson/five-link
Length – 3,999mm
Width – 1,775mm
Height – 1,578mm
Wheelbase – 2,570mm
Weight – 1,195kg
Boot capacity – 260/1,100 litres
Competition – Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf, Opel Ampera
Price €34,950, with range-extender €39,950 on sale November