Category: BMW

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AutoGuide Review – 2014 BMW i3 [VIDEO]

Autoguide.com review the BMW i3.

Fast facts:

  • 1. The i3 offers 125 kw and 250 Nm of torque for a 0-60 time of 7.2 seconds.
  • 2. BMW claims from 80 to 100 miles of electric range, or 150 to 180 miles with the optional range extender.
  • 3. It weighs under 1,195 kg thanks to a carbon-fiber passenger cell.
  • 4. BMW charges $42,275 including destination and before incentives.
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    BMW-Toyota making big steps in EV Battery technology

    BMW’s head of marketing, Ian Robertson, has said the partnership between BMW and Toyota has already heralded “big steps” in battery technology,

    “We’ve been genuinely impressed by the speed and quality of the learnings,” said Robertson. “The teams are working very well together. We are making some big steps, especially in battery performance and efficiency. We are now looking at how we can use the learnings together, because there’s no question they will make electric cars far more attractive.”

    The two firms announced they would jointly research a lithium-air battery back in January. A lithium-air battery has its anode filled with lithium, and cathode with air. Theoretically, the battery can store more than 5,000 watt-hours per kilogram. (A123 M1 cells are around 120 wh/kg).

    Ian Robertson was quoted as saying during the launch of the BMW i3 he expect the i3 to be powered by a 320 km (200 mile) range Lithium-Air Battery by 2017.

    Source: Autocar

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    BMW to Electrify entire model range

    BMW product chief Herbert Diess says “Electricification will be a central thread in what we do, be it plug-in hybrid, hybrid or full electrification".

    Diess told Autocar "all BMW models will soon need to be sold with some form of electrification - be it in hybrid form or pure electric drive" as it is the only way of meeting stringent emissions regulations in the future.

    “We are planning to have a plug-in hybrid in each and every model series,” BMW’s head of production for large vehicles, Peter Wolf, told motoring.com.au. “So far we have the 3, 5 and 7 Series as full hybrids, and at the other end of the bookshelf the i3 and the i8. We are planning to work on that with the X5 eDrive, but at this stage, the plug-in is a completely new concept, and the battery is very specific [to the X5].”

    Diess explained that European customers are likely to see most of the new electric-drive technology first, as regulations here are stricter than elsewhere.

    “The i8 shows what’s possible even below 50g/km, but we will also offer all standard models with entry-level electrification. We will try to use the modular kit developed for the i3 and i8 on a kit basis.”