BMW i3 spied with minimal camouflage http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/06/22/is-it-on-silent-electric-car-comes-to-huddersfield-video-86081-33509124/ [image] Is it on? Silent electric car comes to Huddersfield (Video) by Hudd Sat Jun 22 2013
[video flash] "IS this thing on?" I ask, having poked the start button of a BMW prototype electric car. I'm sure every single electric vehicle virgin asks the same question and yes, it is on. The car I'm test driving is quiet, so quiet in fact, you have to turn the air conditioning off to hear it. But this vehicle hasn't been designed with the sole intention of sneaking up on pedestrians. The vehicle I'm sitting in a standard 1-series with a forthcoming electric engine is part of the BMW i project, which hopes to create sustainable and practical motoring. Once you're at the controls this prototype drives more or less like any other modern automatic car, except it has one (rather than five-plus) gears. Take your foot off the gas ... sorry ... accelerator and the car gently brakes. You do have a brake pedal should you need to shed speed more urgently. The ride is incredibly smooth and if you stamp on the power youll go from 0 to 62mph in about eight seconds not bad for something you can recharge overnight at home. In November youll be able to buy a BMW i3 with the same engine but a very different, futuristic-looking body for £30,000. With a range of 100 miles and a cruiserweight price tag it may not sound like the most practical prospect. But current impracticality is more down to infrastructure which, I'm assured, is going to improve dramatically. The Government is ploughing millions into installing vehicle rapid charge points at everywhere from the supermarket Asda, on Bradford Road, has three to restaurants and other businesses. Besides, its about more than price and practicality. The need to find an affordable and sustainable form of personal transport has never been more acute. All except the most willfully ignorant accept that climate change is a) real and b) a threat. Even the ostriches are resigned to the fact that fuel prices will only increase. But with the i3, depending on your electricity tariff, you can enjoy 100 miles motoring for as little as £2. Richard Avery, dealership principal at Sandal BMW, Leeds Road, said: "Research suggests that 95% of journeys are below 30 miles. Theres no reason why 95% of drivers wouldn't be happy with one. "The money you save on fuel will open it up to a wider range of buyers. "It's an emerging technology so maybe sales will be slow to start. People will want to understand the technology and will want to test it a few times." [© 2013 Huddersfield Examiner] http://www.worldcarfans.com/113062859434/bmw-i3-spied-with-minimal-camo BMW i3 spied with minimal camo By Adrian Padeanu Jun 28, 2013 Scheduled for an official unveiling in September at Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW i3 will be sold as a full electric vehicle or with a range-extending engine. [image http://content.worldcarfans.co/2013/6/28/big/5030957791779446412.jpg ] For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date Here are today's archive-only EV posts: EVLN: University of Michigan's World Solar Challenge EV EVLN: 160 S. Korean-made EVs distributed throughout Jeju Island EVLN: Geely launches 'mini urban e-bus' @2013 Shanghai Auto Show EVLN: Free pod-point.com 3kW home EVSE & installation + EVLN: Mid-air e-plane pack-swap along Lindbergh’s trans-Atlantic route {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Is-this-thing-on-Silent-BMW-i3-test-drive-0-62mph-8s-video-tp4663929.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
