BMW i3 News
BMW Plots Course to Make Electric Vehicles Integral to its Brand
With more than 250,000 BMW plug-in electric vehicles already on global roads, the makers of the ultimate driving machine are now planning to make EV technology an integral part of its brand and production process. BMW is emboldened by seeing sales of its plug-in cars increase by nearly 50 percent this year. “We are preparing our car architectures and our factories to flexibly integrate this technology,” said Oliver Zipse, BMW’s chief of production. “For us, creating that flexibility is the most efficient way to profitably offer electric cars.”
Advertising Watchdog Says BMW Shouldn’t Make “Zero Emissions” Claim
What constitutes a “clean” or “zero-emissions” car? That question was raised this week when the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) asked BMW to pull advertisements that claim its i3 electric car, the version with the small range-extending gasoline engine, is “a clean car and helps to give back to the environment.” The ASA’s position is that even vehicles that rely mostly on batteries for power—and only use gasoline to supplement electric energy—cannot make a claim for zero emissions.
Honda Clarity Electric Goes On Sale in California and Oregon
The all-electric version of the 2017 Honda Clarity started arriving in dealerships in the past few weeks. The full-size sedan, which is only available in California and Oregon, leases for $269 a month for 36 months with $1,999 due at signing. The all-electric Clarity can travel 89 miles on a single charge. That puts Honda in the unfortunate position of introducing an EV with a driving range significantly lower than the new generation of electric cars.
MINI Will Introduce Plug-in Countryman in 2017, and EV in 2019
BMW this month announced that it will introduce a plug-in hybrid version of the MINI Countryman in 2017—followed by a pure all-electric versionin 2019. These new plug-in models will come in addition to BMW's growing list of plug-in offerings.
BMW Builds EV Momentum with i3’s 114-Mile Range
BMW announced in May that its 2017 i3 electric car will offer an all-electric range of 114 miles—a big jump from the current model's 81 miles. The new longer-range i3, which is available now, catapults the model to first place in EV range among vehicles priced below $50,000. And yet, that position will be short-lived with 200-mile EVs, such as the Chevrolet Bolt, expected later this year.
BMW Will Boost Electric Range of i3 to 114 Miles
BMW announced this week that a version of its 2017 i3 electric car will offer an all-electric range of 114 miles—a big jump from the current model's 81 miles. The new longer-range i3 will immediately catapult the model to first place in EV range among vehicles priced below $50,000.
AAA Rates VW E-Golf as Top 2016 Green Compact Car
The Volkswagen E-Golf may not be the best-selling eco-friendly compact car on the market—or even the top-selling compact all-electric vehicle. But in terms of what makes a small car great and green, according to AAA, the E-Golf is the best overall compact green car on the market.
More Signs of Future BMW Plug-ins in Various Forms
The BMW blog reported earlier this month that the 2017 BMW 5-Series will be offered with three plug-in hybrid options. The launch of one or more of these plug-in cars in global markets could be as early as December 2016. Stories about these models first emerged late last year, and add to a growing roster of BMW EVs and plug-in hybrids expected in the next couple of years.
BMW Announces Plug-in Version of 3-Series
In September 2013, Peter Wolf, BMW’s head of production line for large vehicles, said, “We are planning to have a plug-in hybrid vehicle in each and every model series.” Twenty months later, BMW appears to be methodically marching to this plan by announcing the introduction of the 330e, a plug-in hybrid version of its popular 3-series sedan.
Is BMW Positioned To Become the Leader in Electric Vehicles?
BMW is barely out of the gate with sales of its i3 and i8 battery-powered cars. Yet, it has already established a leadership role in the electric car world—putting the company in the top echelon of EV-makers along with Tesla and Nissan. As news emerges of more BMW EVs and plug-in hybrids in the works, the German automaker appears to be moving faster than Tesla or Nissan toward an entire suite of plug-in cars.