Tuesday 13 July 2010. The Green Piece Column
There have been plenty of green cars that have prompted debate, whetted the appetite and sparked eager anticipation – but few have captured the imagination quite like BMW’s latest electric car.
A design sketch of the BMW Megacity Vehicle was released last week (see article) suggesting it will be a dynamic but practical hatchback and one that should put BMW’s Project I firmly on the map.
What does the BMW Megacity have to offer?
With its edgy shape, BMW suggests the Megacity Vehicle reflects its commitment to building fun and engaging cars with a minimalistic design that optimises both fuel efficiency and range.
In an effort to maximise its range, BMW has focused on reducing the vehicle’s weight with a carbon fibre passenger cell and aluminium chassis components. The lithium-ion battery is placed below the vehicle’s floor and has a capacity of around 35kWh with a range in the region of 100miles. Power meanwhile, will be delivered to the rear wheels via a rear-mounted 150hp electric motor with the car’s top speed expected to be around 95mph.
The sketch itself has left plenty of food for thought as the design appears somewhat ambiguous. However, reports suggest that the Megacity Vehicle will feature a four-door, four-seat configuration and include rear ‘suicide’ doors similar to a Rolls-Royce. It will measure around 157inches – roughly the same as a Ford Fiesta – and should make its debut appearance at the Frankfurt Auto Show in September next year.
It’s not yet known how much the vehicle will cost, but BMW officials have admitted that they have been monitoring the prices of the Nissan LEAF and the Chevrolet Volt. It’s unlikely of course that the BMW will be as cheap as the LEAF with buyers expected to pay for the company’s renowned refinement.
The start of something big for BMW
While the likes of Toyota, Honda and Nissan have set the early pace in the green car race, BMW may be garnering the early lead among luxury car makers.
The German car manufacturer has already made a number of green refinements to existing models through its EfficientDynamics range and it was announced last month that the BMW 5 Series Touring will feature a stop-start function that will help slash its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to just 135g/km (see article). Meanwhile, the BMW 3 Series 320d EfficientDynamics model almost managed a staggering 1,013miles on a single tank of fuel when competing in a fuel challenge during a road challenge run from London to Munich (see article).
However, it’s not just about improving its existing fleet – BMW has also introduced several new green car concepts.
Among them is a full hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series (see article) with hybrid versions of the X6 and 7-Series also in production. The BMW ActiveHybrid 7 has already qualified for a substantial tax credit of $900 in the US courtesy of the Alternative Motor Vehicle provision (see article).
Also planned are a series of battery electric cars including the BMW Concept ActiveE, which was unveiled in Geneva earlier this year (see article). The vehicle includes a specially designed motor with a maximum torque of 250Nm and it can race from 0-60mph in 8.5seconds with a 100mile range. BMW has also conducted a number of trials for the MINI E, which was first unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in January (see article). This electric model also includes the same specially designed motor with a maximum torque of 250Nm.
And as if to prove that it has all its bases checked, BMW has also revealed plans for a fuel cell hybrid vehicle (see article) with the aim of offering emission-free travelling in city traffic. The concept includes an on-board reformer that produces hydrogen from conventional hydrocarbon fuel and is based on the BMW 1 Series.
So how far can BMW go?
BMW is expected to create its own brand for its electric vehicles, similar to the M badge that is used for its performance cars. It is expected that, in addition to the Megacity Vehicle, at least two more models will be part of its make-up including a smaller intra-city vehicle with two doors and two seats expected to go on sale by 2015; and an urban commuter vehicle with four doors and room for five people, expected to go on sale by 2017.
Reports also indicate that BMW may expand to include other powertrain options with one possibility being to package a 35hp combustion engine as a range extender in a similar vein to the Chevrolet Volt. Similarly, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are also expected.
BMW seems to have given itself a “can’t miss” portfolio of green cars. Rather than banking on one technology, it has set itself up for both the short- and long-term by exploring several options with equal gusto meaning that the BMW name is likely to play as big a role in the car manufacturing of the future as it has in the past.
Faye Sunderland
