Bmw Unveils The I3 Its First Electric Car

At simultaneous press conferences in Beijing, London and New York City, the Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) Company unveiled its new i3 or “city car” model on July 29, 2013 at an approximately $41,000 price point. This battery-powered compact vehicle comes after the more restricted sales of other vehicles, such as the MiniE (electric Mini Cooper), BMW ActiveE and Rolls-Royce luxury brand Electric Phantom (which never made it into production). All of those other experiments and research processes led BMW to the i3, noted CNN. New model offers unique add-on feature The i3 also comes with a unique option: use of sports utility vehicle (SUV). This option will allow i3 owners to make use of a full-sized SUV for family trips or other needs for several weeks of the year as an “add-on” option (pricing not yet available). The option is designed to alleviate any owner fears of problems with long-haul driving, where concerns about being stranded with a dead battery can multiply, according to Bloomberg News. These anxieties are also backed up by other features, including a combustible engine (which can generate electricity) and roadside assistance, as well as an on-board navigational system that provides the locations of electric charging stations. The idea, according to Bloomberg News, is to prevent any excuse for failure. All about the horsepower BMW Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Norbert Reithofer extolled the virtues of the BMW’s i3 horsepower, noting that it was designed from the start as an electric car that would have the horsepower of a traditional model, while being able to meet tight emission standards. His company, the largest maker of luxury vehicles, is seeking to surpass its rivals (chiefly Audi and Mercedes) in both style and substance. BMW, which typically focuses on a horsepower-based car culture, began exploring electric cars five years ago. Not only will the i3 shake up traditional automotive design, “it keeps alive the message that the company is daring,” noted Industry Analyst Carlos da Silva. Meeting world challenges Reithofer’s vision extends beyond merely following the electric car trend. Indeed, his vision began with presentations to BMW executives by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Left-wing German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. They detailed the ongoing and future world problems being faced, including crowded cities, pollution and dwindling natural resources. From those discussions developed the i Team. Begun in 2008, led by Ulrich Kranz and tasked with creating the environmental counterpart to the M series, they began developing the electric vehicles of BMW’s future, beginning with the Mini Cooper makeover. While the i3 is the first full-production vehicle, BMW plans to introduce the i8 plug-in hybrid, which will also be featured in an upcoming “Mission Impossible” movie. Plenty more where that came from While the i8 will likely be introduced next year, many more i-vehicles have been trademarked, according to Bloomberg News. There is no intention for this electric line to be a niche market either. Designed from scratch (not adopted from an existing BMW model), the new i3 features light carbon fiber components, a low center of gravity (for better handling) and even hemp doors (as well as a contoured wood shelf in the dash). While sales expectations have lessened considerably since the very first electric car was introduced, that just might work in BMW’s favor. Noted Industry Analyst Juergen Pieper, “After the earlier hype about electric cars, the expectations for the i3 are now so low that BMW is actually in a position to positively surprise with that car.” Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society