BMW i3 electric cars at the Frankfurt motor Show
BMW was no different, taking the opportunity to publicly unveil the i3 electric city car and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car concepts.
BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer prefaced the cars’ arrival by showing off a BMW 1602e, which was specifically converted to electric drive for the 1972 Olympics. By saving weight with these materials, BMW has managed to counteract the additional weight of batteries that usually makes electric cars so heavy.
While the cars themselves will be very energy efficient, producing the carbon fiber needed for them requires lots of energy. One other neat trick to cut power usage: the i8 concept is the first application of BMW’s new laser headlight system.
As a full-electric car, BMW obviously has high hopes for the i3, naming it in line with its much-loved and best-selling 3 Series. The i3 is also BMW’s fist foray into the world of carbon fiber platforms, using a carbon fiber reinforced plastic chassis to keep weight to a somewhat reasonable 2,755 lbs.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, it makes use of a modified version of the i3′s electric motor mated to the front wheels, while a turbocharged 3-cylinder engine delivers 223-hp to the rear axle. With an onboard battery pack, the i8 has a zero-emissions range of 22 miles and BMW claims a 78-mpg rating.
