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 »
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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 »
Tom Gage on ZEV mandates, Tesla’s early days, BMW’s EV commitment and V2G tech
Q&A with the EV trailblazer Tom Gage Tom Gage is one of America’s true EV pioneers. He’s perhaps best known as one of the designers of the tzero electric sports car that provided the inspiration for the Tesla Roadster. However, that is far from his only contribution to the electric mobility field. Charged recently caught up… Read more »
BMW X5 plug-in hybrid prototype highlights eDrive strategy
Members of the press took BMW’s X5 eDrive PHEV for a test drive at an event in Germany this week. BMW also presented several elements of its EfficientDynamics strategy, which depends on a combination of ever-more-efficient gasoline and diesel engines with eDrive electrified drive technology developed by the BMW i sub-brand. BMW plans to develop… Read more »
BMW and SGL to double carbon fiber production
BMW and its partner, the SGL Group, plan to invest more than €100 million ($137 million) to double their joint production of carbon fiber to 6,000 metric tons a year, according to German news outlet Handelsblatt. BMW’s new i3 and i8 plug-ins make greater use of lightweight, super-strong carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) than any… Read more »
Update: BMW i3 with gas range extender ineligible for coveted California carpool sticker
Updated 1/10/14 10:00am EST to include response from BMW. BMW’s new i3 is available with an optional feature that’s the first of its kind – a small range-extending gas engine. However, financial publication The Street reported this week that there’s a drawback to opting for the REx – it makes the car ineligible for California’s… Read more »
BMW’s new EVs get you to your destination ASAP – even if you have to take the train
BMW’s new i3 and i8 take vehicle connectivity to a new level with the ConnectedDrive feature, which BMW describes as a travelling companion that can play the role of “travel guide, entertainer or guardian angel.” Thanks to BMW partner INRIX, which is based in Washington State, ConnectedDrive incorporates real-time traffic conditions, and can even plan… Read more »
European safety agency gives BMW i3 four stars
The European New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) has published the results of its crash test of the 2014 BMW i3, in which the new EV Bimmer scored four out of five possible stars. While that might not sound so bad, it does compare unfavorably with other popular plug-ins such as the Volt, LEAF and Model… Read more »
BMW i3 bares it all in LA
As BMW prepares to bring its new i3 to market in 2014, expectations are running high. The upscale city car fills a vacant niche in the market, and it embodies all the advantages of a pure EV. Equally important, the company seems committed to making the i3 a success in the marketplace, rather than taking… Read more »
BMW announces 360º Electric package for BMW i drivers
Upgrading from a legacy vehicle to an EV involves a few lifestyle changes. BMW’s 360º Electric is a portfolio of consumer-oriented products and services designed to smooth the transition and overcome some of the perceived barriers to going electric. BMW’s MINI E and ActiveE field trials have given it a wealth of data about EV… Read more »