BMW is making a breakthrough in the green department

The i3 Concept made its auto show debut at Frankfurt, and this pure-electric is close to production. Unique construction and a complete focus as a pure electric vehicle—rather than being an electric variation of some gasoline-powered model—make the i3 distinct in an automotive landscape that’s beginning to accept electric cars as commonplace.

 

 

The i3 is practical. There’s trunk space under the hood area, and a stowage spot under the rear hatch. For ease of ingress/egress, the i3 Concept features front and rear bench seats. Just slide on over, as there is no center tunnel or transmission in the way. Seating is slightly high, as in the Leaf, because the DriveCell raises the LifeCell about 10 in. above the bottom of the car. The volume of the rear hatch area is slightly compromised by the electric motor.

An interesting twist to the i3 is the proposed option of a “REx” range extender. As with the Chevrolet and the Volt, BMW plans to equip the i3 when desired with a 2-cylinder 600-cc gasoline generator that will recharge the battery pack while driving. The driver can fill up at gas stations and continue on his way. Of course, when running in this manner, the i3 will likely only achieve the equivalent of 30 to 50 mpg. In its normal pure- electric mode, expect the i3 to better the Leaf and be rated at over 100 MPGe and have a similar 100-mile range. All with a slightly smaller battery that’s liquid-cooled. As with the Leaf, a full charge using 220V can be had in about six hours.

 

The BMW i3 has a lot of technology. It’s also quick, able to hit 60 mph in less than 8 seconds. As such, it really could change how people perceive the electric car. And its optional range extender might make it very appealing to those who can’t live with the limited range of a pure EV. And for the enthusiast, it’s hard not to appreciate the rear-drive architecture and mass centralization.

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