The BMW i is a sub-brand of BMW founded in 2011 to design and manufacture lightweight eco-friendly urban plug-in electric cars designed to address the mobility and sustainability needs for people who live in megacities. After putting this plan in action the company expects to meet stringent fuel economy regulations that become enforced upon automakers. Furthermore it allows the company to branch into a new market segment.
The company initial plans call for the release of two vehicles; the i3 all-electric car and the i8 plug-in hybrid. Concept versions of both these vehicles were shown at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Series production of the BMW i3 destined for retail customers began in September 2013, and the European market launch took place in November 2013 with the first retail deliveries in Germany.
 | |
| Type | Sub-brand of BMW |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive industry |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Products | High performance low-emission cars, Innovative mobility solutions |
| Owner(s) | BMW |
| Parent | BMW |
Future
The first BMW i store opened in June 2012 at BMW’s London Park Lane showroom. The carmaker premiered an updated version of the BMW i3 concept electric car and unveiled its i Pedelec electric bicycle concept.
The company plans to come up with more ideas in the future in order to promote BMW as an environmentally friendly car manufacturer. There have been talks of the release of a range of small front wheel drive cars in the years to come. The goal is that after the release of the i3, the average fuel economy of all the cars in their model range might be 6.63L/100 km (35.5 mpg).
Range of vehicles
BMW i3
Design and Technology
The i3 is BMW's first zero emissions mass-produced vehicle due to its electric powertrain, and BMW is the first company to launch a volume production vehicle on the market featuring carbon-fiber reinforced plastic to improve the vehicle's energy consumption. This vehicle gets its power from an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. The i3 is built for everyday use, with an all-electric range of 130 to 160 km (81 to 99 mi). BMW is offering a range extender (“REx”) option powered by a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine with a 9 L (2.0 imp gal; 2.4 US gal) fuel tank that engages when the battery level drops to a pre-specified point, acting purely as a generator to produce electricity to extend the range to about 240 to 300 km (150 to 190 mi).[10]
Production and sales
The i3 features a body made entirely out of carbon fiber, for which BMW invested US$100 million to build a plant in Moses Lake, Washington.[4] Carbon fiber requires an abundant supply of power so for efficiency the plant is located in an area that has large access to hydroelectric power.[4] The carbon fiber is then sent to Germany, where it first gets fabricated and then goes to the automotive production plant in Leipzig.[4] The first i3 deliveries to retail customers in Europe took place at a special ceremony held in Munich on 15 November 2013.[7]
BMW i8
The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid is the production version of the BMW Vision Efficient Dynamics concept unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and has an all-electric range of 35 kilometres (22 mi). Production of both plug-in electric cars is scheduled to start in Leipzig in 2013.Powering the front two wheels will be an electric motor (131 hp), while the back two wheels however will make use of a 1.5-litre 3-cylinder gasoline engine (231 hp). 0 to 60 mph sprint timings are estimated to be less than 4.5 seconds using both power sources. The positioning of the motor and engine over the axles also makes it benefit from a 50/50 weight distribution.
The production version of the i8 was unveiled at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW plans to sell the i8 in about 50 countries, with the U.S. expected to be the largest sales market. In Europe, the UK, Germany and France are expected to be the top markets.Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2014.
Life-Drive
Both the i3 and i8 will benefit from BMW’s lifedrive platform which makes use of light-weight materials. The claim is that electric vehicles suffer from a heavy weight from all the excess batteries needed to power the car. It is believed their vehicle will be a market first by utilizing a light frame to begin with. Both cars will come with an aluminum chassis, thus preserving the sporty driving characteristics associated with all BMW’s. In the case of the i8 the windshield, top, doors and fenders are made from polycarbonate glass, with the body having a drag coefficient of 0.26.
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