New plans for electric vehicles are so widespread in the auto industry today that almost all carmakers seem to be working on future models. Several have already rolled out mass-produced renewable energy cars.
As the world's leading premium carmaker, what BMW will offer as its own solution to future mobility is highly anticipated by the motoring world.
Recently in Frankfurt, the manufacturer gave a dramatic answer when it debuted the first two models of its new "i" sub-brand, which stands for electric mobility.
Unlike other automakers, BMW showed two very different electric models at the same time. Its i3 concept car is a small all-electric vehicle, while the racecar-like plug-in hybrid i8 twins an electric motor with an internal combustion engine to deliver high performance.
With its compact, agile body and medium-sized electric motor, the i3 is BMW's practical solution for urban environments, said industry analysts.
In the i8 - with its dynamic sports car design and powerful output - BMW demonstrates that its sporty DNA will be retained and even enhanced in the new kind of automobile.
The two vehicles will be put into volume production in BMW's plant in Leipzig and go on sale in 2013 and 2014. The company said it will invest around 400 million euros in new production facilities to make the models over the next three years.
"We are marking another milestone in the history of the BMW Group. As chairman of the board and an engineer myself, I am very proud of this project," said Chairman and CEO Norbert Reithofer.
The i3 is less than 4 meters long but has a 2,570 mm wheelbase that provides spacious room for passengers. Purpose-built for everyday use in cities, the car's range is long enough to cover the distance between home and office or even a trip to the suburbs on weekends.
The i8, combining an electric motor and 1.5-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, is remarkable for its performance. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under five seconds and uses less than three liters of fuel every 100 kilometers, capabilities beyond any other current vehicle powered by a combustion engine of comparable performance.
Both the i3 and the i8 also use engineering BMW calls Eco Pro to increase electric driving range and reduce power consumption at the press of a button. In the i3, it stringently maximizes the range amid unforeseen circumstances such as prolonged traffic congestion that make reaching a destination uncertain.
The function limits electrically powered conveniences such as air conditioning and heating systems and shuts down others such as heated seats and heated mirrors altogether.
In addition, intelligent navigation functions in the i8 enable optimal energy management to significantly reduce fuel consumption. As soon as a destination is entered into the navigation system, the vehicle calculates the best way to manage energy consumption by its two power units along the route.
On different sections of the route, the vehicle characteristics can be modified for either for maximum efficiency or optimal performance.
LifeDrive
Unlike the common approach to integrating electric components in conventional vehicles designed for a combustion engine, the innovative LifeDrive architecture in BMW i vehicles are designed specifically to meet electric powertrain requirements.
As a result, the electric motor and the battery are optimally accommodated. Combined with lightweight design and innovative use of materials, the vehicle can be electrified without complex modifications and additional weight.
The approach also ensures generous interior space, top driving characteristics and high safety levels for the battery and passengers.
BMW's LifeDrive concept has two innovative components - a drive module integrated into the vehicle's suspension and a high-strength, lightweight passenger cell made from carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP).
"This vehicle (i3) will mark the launch of the first volume-produced car featuring bodywork largely made of carbon. It's a revolution in automotive design," said Klaus Draeger, board member for development.
Like the cockpit of a Formula One car, the CFRP passenger cell provides an extremely strong survival area. Pole impacts, side-on collisions and rollover tests highlight the impressive safety properties of the extraordinarily robust material.
With the LifeDrive approach, the automaker has taken lightweight design, vehicle architecture and crash safety into a whole new dimension.
For the BMW i, sustainability is of pivotal importance and something it aspires to throughout the entire production chain. From the earliest planning stages, clearly defined sustainability targets were set for the BMW i vehicles. All sustainability aspects were addressed across the entire spectrum, from purchasing, development and production to sales and marketing.
Sustainable system
The BMW Group as a whole has invested enormouse effort in developing a sustainable production system. With its "i" vehicles the company goes even further.
Compared with the already efficient BMW Group production network, the production plant for BMW i vehicles in Leipzig will save an additional 70 percent on water consumption and 50 percent on energy for each vehicle produced.
Further reductions on greenhouse gases across the entire product lifecycle can be achieved through a carefully focused purchasing strategy for aluminum and CFRP.
Aluminum produced from 100 percent renewable material - known as secondary aluminum - can reduce CO2 emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to conventional manufacturing. More than 80 percent of the aluminum used in the i3 is produced either using renewable energy or from secondary material.
In CFRP manufacturing, the BMW i also uses eco-friendly processes. Material produced at the automaker's joint venture Moses Lake plant in the US is made using electricity generated entirely from hydroelectric power.
BMW i suppliers must also demonstrate that their business practices are sustainable.
Mobility services
The BMW i also stands for comprehensive and custom-designed mobility services that can optimize personal mobility even for customers who do not own their own vehicle.
Starting in June, the DriveNow joint venture between BMW Group and Sixt AG is offering a mobility service, initially in Munich, that includes high-efficiency premium vehicles and an extensive range of services.
A highlight of the service is that vehicles do not have to be picked up from and returned to specific locations but can be hired and left wherever the customer wishes.
Customers can check vehicle availability either on the Internet, use a smartphone app or simply when passing by on the street. Conventional car keys are not required since the DriveNow vehicles can be unlocked by means of a chip inserted in a driver's license and started using a starter button.
More major European cities will get the service later in the year. In the longer term, there are also plans to extend this car-sharing service to other continents as well.
In addition to developing and offering its own services, BMW Group also provides services in partnership with other companies and makes strategic investments in mobility service providers.
BMW i Ventures, a subsidiary established early this year, is providing backing for new, promising startup companies. MyCityWay and ParkatmyHouse are the first two startups in which BMW i Ventures invested.
MyCityWay is a mobile app that provides users with information on public transport, parking availability and local entertainment for more than 50 cities in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia.
The ParkatmyHouse Internet platform enables private individuals rent out their driveway or private parking space on an occasional or permanent basis. This parking management service makes private parking spaces affordable and takes the pressure off street parking.
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