BMW i3 Unveiled In Three Cities

BMW i3, the first premium car to be purpose-designed as an all-electric vehicle, was revealed to the public for the first time by BMW in three metropolises, simultaneously.

BMW i3 unveiling in New York

The BMW i3 was held in the cities of London, New York and Beijing on Monday, July 29. The event was broadcast live on Youtube.

"With every step of the way from development, to production, to after-sales, the BMW i3 sets new benchmarks in sustainable mobility," Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG said in a statement. "In the brand-new architecture, we use carbon fiber for the passenger cell — a first in high-volume car production."

The BMW i3 features a large number of technological innovations – such as a carbon-fiber passenger cell and a chassis made of aluminium – and sets new standards in the field of lightweight construction. With a curb weight of 1,195 kg, it is lighter than most vehicles in the compact segment, yet offers significantly more space for up to four occupants.

"Our expertise in manufacturing with this material makes the passenger cell extremely strong and light weight," Reithofer added. "We produce the carbon fibre material using hydroelectric power. And we build the BMW i3 using wind power."

The vehicle’s running costs are comparatively low: Over a period of three years, the maintenance and running costs for a BMW i3 are about 40% lower than those of a highly-economical 320dA registered in Germany. In other countries, figures may even be lower, depending on the level of subsidies available for electric vehicles.

To go on sale in the United States next spring, the BMW i3 will start at $42,275. The car’s electric motor will have a “real world” range of 80 to 100 miles, BMW said. Customers looking to double the i3’s range have the option of a small gas-powered generator for an additional $3,850.

The 22-kWh lithium-ion battery will charge in about three hours using a 220-volt outlet, and a fast-charging station can add 80% of the charge in 20 minutes or 100% in 30 minutes, BMW said.

"Driver assistance systems and BMW ConnectedDrive mobility services specially developed for BMW i, combined with the services of 360° ELECTRIC, make emission-free mobility in the urban environment a fascinating everyday experience," the automaker said.