BMW ramping up into hybrid and EV leadership, kind of
Can cars like this really help mainstream battery technologies?
But is that a good thing since BMW doesn’t sell to the masses?
Today, BMW already offers a few hybrid cars, but in the next few years, BMW will significantly increase its output of electrified offerings, especially ones with plugs.
While it’s great to see an auto manufacturer like BMW embrace the efficiency of the battery, is BMW motivated to mainstream plug-in technologies, or to use them to balance numerous regulatory requirements, such as CAFE and European CO2 caps? Read more…
Categories: BMW EfficientDynamics plug-in hybrid, BMW Megacity electric car, BMW i3 electric car, Buying Hybrids, Buying plug-ins, Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: CAFE, electric cars, Hybrid Cars, plug-in hybrids
An i on BMW’s plug-in plans
BMW's mainstream take on plug-in vehicles
BMW’s electrification plans begin to shape up
MotorTrend has a number of great photos of the new i3 and i8 plug-in vehicles undergoing cold weather testing. Overall, the pictures aren’t too shocking, although the i3 plug-in electric car definitely appears far more conservative than the original Megacity concept.
The i8 plug-in hybrid, on the other hand, seems to be sticking to the original EfficientDynamics concept design language. Read more…
Categories: BMW EfficientDynamics plug-in hybrid, BMW Megacity electric car, BMW i3 electric car, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: BMW i3, BMW i8, electric cars, plug-in hybrids
BMW’s 2013 plug-in vehicles set for launch
The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid
BMW i “born electric”
BMW has updated its plans for electrification by announcing the formation of the BMW i sub brand, as well as updated names for the first two plug-ins to be sold under the i brand.
Nothing really new in this report, but at least we know the names of BMW’s first plug-ins. Read more…
Categories: BMW EfficientDynamics plug-in hybrid, BMW Megacity electric car, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: BMW EfficientDynamics, BMW i3, BMW i8, BMW Megacity electric car, electric cars, plug-in hybrids
Carbon fiber key to BMW plug-ins
Carbon fiber strengthens BMW's future
Rebuilding the car from the ground up
When the 2013 BMW Megacity plug-in vehicle goes on sale it won’t just be new to the market place, it’ll be an entirely brand new car, designed completely from scratch – except for the lithium-ion cells in the battery pack – from the ground up.
And, while such an approach means it will take longer for BMW to return a profit on its investment, it could be the key differentiator between BMW plug-in success and the rest of the auto industry. Just as interesting, the Megacity’s ground breaking approach will be driven by carbon fiber. Read more…
Categories: BMW Megacity electric car, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars Tags: BMW Megacity electric car, carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, safety and fuel efficiency
A key to fuel economy?
The strength of carbon fiber
These days any conversation regarding fuel economy, oil dependence, etc. ultimately seems to always resolve to batteries. Yet, the research on batteries seems to indicate that if the battery is the future of the auto industry, the world has many decades before that future fully unfolds.
Consequently, is it not fair to ask whether there is too much focus on the battery, particularly in the short term? For instance, could something like carbon-fiber also be a game changer? Read more…
Categories: BMW Megacity electric car, Energy Independence, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, Tax Incentives, auto-drive software, electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars, safety Tags: BMW Megacity electric car, carbon fiber, Fuel economy
BMW’s new mold for the auto industry
30 percent lighter than aluminum
Lightening the plug-in load
Despite massive obstacles against plugging in the future of the auto industry, the electrification of a significant chunk of the automotive future seems inevitable. Yet, the success of the plug might be dependent upon more than just cheaper, smaller and more powerful batteries.
Instead, a significant reduction in vehicle weight might be the key to plug-in cost-effectiveness, and that makes BMW’s Megacity Car Concept – planned for a 2013 launch – an interesting body of work. Read more…
Categories: BMW Megacity electric car, MIsc., Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: BMW Megacity electric car, electric cars
An EV issue: So few hybrid incentives, so few buyers?
Why buy a hybrid?
Will EVs be any different?
Back in 2005, when Anthony Pratt of JD Power made his hybrid powertrain forecast for 2010, I thought he was nuts.
Turns out, I was the fool.
Nevertheless, the hybrid market is what is it is – less than 3 percent of overall vehicle sales today – and the lack of hybrid incentives now available certainly isn’t going to help increase those numbers.
So, will EV incentives last forever?
Categories: BMW Megacity electric car, Chevy Volt, Chevy Volt MVP5, Energy Independence, Fuel Economy, Hybrid Cars, MIsc., Nissan Leaf, Opel Ampera, Plug-in Vehicles, Tax Incentives, Tesla Roadster, Tesla White Star, Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid, electric cars, lithium batteries, plug-in hybrid cars Tags: electric cars, Hybrid Cars, Tax Incentives
Carbon-fiber Megacity EV intrigues
The Megacity electric car
Nice carbon fiber
Electric cars have a long way to go before becoming mainstream. One of the biggest problems is battery size. However, if cars could be made lighter, smaller battery packs become possible, and that’s what makes BMW’s Megacity electric car very interesting.
Categories: BMW Megacity electric car, Plug-in Vehicles, electric cars Tags: bmw, BMW Megacity electric car, carbon fiber, electric cars
