The BMW Group is having a banner year – it sold more than a million vehicles in the first half of 2014 for the first time (that includes MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorcycles). The new i division, which comprises BMW’s plug-in models, shared the wealth. In June, 1,241 BMW i3s were delivered to customers worldwide,… Read more »
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Formula E cars race on Westminster Bridge in London, BMW, Rimac to supply cars
The Formula E Championship is getting closer – the first race is scheduled for September 13 in Beijing. Organizers threw an electrifying launch party in London last week – 500 guests mingled with the motorsports elite, and watched a video of Formula E racers laying some rubber on Westminster Bridge. Also this week, the cars… Read more »
University of Delaware to offer BMW Mini-E EVs for lease in V2G project
The University of Delaware is making a small number of BMW Mini-E EVs available for lease as part of an ongoing vehicle-to-grid (V2G) demonstration project. “Individual drivers are now needed to expand the demonstration over a wider range of driving patterns,” said project leader Willett Kempton. The Grid on Wheels program will lease the vehicles… Read more »
BMW Smart Charging App lets drivers automatically schedule cheapest charging times
BMW has launched a new Smart Charging App, which allows drivers to automatically identify the best rates and times for charging their EVs at home. The new app is integrated with the existing BMW i Remote App, and is available for Android and iOS devices. Through a connection to a national… Read more »
May plug-in sales: LEAF, Prius and Fusion Energi surge, BMW i3 makes strong debut
Cars were burning rubber off dealers’ lots all over the US in May, as five sunny weekends gave the typically strong month an extra boost. Overall auto sales were up 11% compared to May 2013, a nine-year high. Plug-ins rode the trend, setting an all-time monthly record – 12,053 Americans charged up new cars in… Read more »
How green is BMW’s carbon fiber?
BMW has placed big bets on carbon fiber – it’s a critical component of the i3 and the upcoming i8, and the company has hinted that it may use it in some of its legacy models as well. But is the miracle material really all that green? According to WardsAuto, (unspecified) critics say that carbon… Read more »
BMW joint venture to double – wait, make that triple – carbon fiber production
Back in February, we reported that SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers, a joint venture between BMW and the SGL Group, was planning to double the capacity of its carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, Washington. Well, they’re not. They’re going to triple it. The $300-million site expansion, to be completed by early 2015, will bring production… Read more »
BMW delivers first US i3 as California makes REx version eligible for full rebate
There’s a new kid in the EV pool, and there’s every reason to believe it’s going to make a big splash. BMW proudly announced the first delivery of an i3 to a US customer this week. A Boston university professor and ActiveE “electronaut” drove his new i3 off the lot on May 2. Demand for… Read more »
Mercedes B-Class Electric Drive priced to compete with BMW i3
Mercedes-Benz has dribbled out a few more details about its eagerly-awaited B-Class Electric Drive, which is scheduled to arrive in eight US states this summer. The latest news: MSRP will be $41,450, almost exactly the same as that of the BMW i3. The Beemer, which went on sale in the US this month, appears to… Read more »
BMW boosts i3 production to meet higher demand
When we drove BMW’s new i3 in Los Angeles last year, we could see that it had the potential to be one of the most popular EVs on the market. As the sporty city car heads for dealers’ lots this month, demand appears to be exceeding expectations. Harald Krueger, BMW’s production chief, told Bloomberg that… Read more »