Electric Cars Report » bmw

First Official Teaser of BMW Megacity EV

admin — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 10:29:04 +0000

BMW has released the first official teaser of the Megacity electric vehicle which is set for launch in 2013 as a first model under a new BMW sub-brand.

The Megacity electric vehicle will be built around a carbon fiber and aluminum chassis, with its body panels using composite materials or carbon fiber produced in a new carbon-fiber plant BMW is building together with composites expert SGL Group.

The Megacity EV is expected to have a range between 100 and 130 miles to a charge.

The Megacity will employ SB LiMotive lithium-ion battery pack with roughly 35 kWh of capacity, mounted below the floor of the car. The battery delivers the juice to a 134 horsepower electric motor driving the rear wheels. Top speed will reportedly be limited to 95 mph.

Despite its small proportions, the vehicle will be a four-seater. Earlier this year, BMW announced plans to build its electric vehicles at its plant in Leipzig, Germany.

BMW to Roll Out Megacity Electric Vehicle in 2013

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:49:59 +0000

BMW announced to day its plans to launch its first series-production electric car to market – the Megacity Electric Vehicle in 2013.

”The Megacity Electric Vehicle will be a zero-emission urban car for the world’s metropolitan regions. It is currently being developed as part of ‘project i’ and will be available from 2013 under a sub-brand of BMW,” German luxury car maker said in a statement.

Details on the finalized Megacity are still sparse, but we do know the car will be manufactured at BMW’s plant in Leipzig, Germany, and will extensively utilize carbon fiber to reduce weight.

BMW has been gleaning insights into the day-to-day use of electric vehicles since mid-2009, when it launched a global field test involving more than 600 MINI E models. During the test phase some 50 MINI E cars are also being delivered to customers in China in 2010. Next year BMW will deliver a fleet of BMW Concept ActiveE to Chinese customers.

The results will filter into the development of electrically powered vehicles for the Chinese market.

BMW gathered its first experiences with electric-drive vehicles some 40 years ago courtesy of a modified BMW 1602 that led the long-distance walking and marathon running events in the 1972 Summer Olympics. In subsequent decades this alternative drive technology was further pursued using many mobile test beds, including the revolutionary BMW E1.

BMW Electric Car Parts to be Build in Moses Lake

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:18:32 +0000

BMW and SGL Group have announced they will invest an initial US$100m to build a carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, near Seattle, WA.

SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers LLC, a joint venture between BMW and SGL Group was set up in October 2009.

The new facility is an important element of both companies’ strategy to commercialize viable manufacturing of ultra light weight carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) for use in future vehicle concepts.

BMW wants to replace steel and aluminum with carbon in electric car models such as the upcoming Megacity car, in order to make them lighter.

Weight [reduction] is very important for electric cars, CFO Friedrich Eichiner told Financial Times Deutschland.

The production of CFRP involves several work stages. The raw material needed to manufacture carbon fibers, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based precursor, will be produced by a joint venture between SGL Group and the Japanese company Mitsubishi Rayon (MRC) in Otake, Japan.

In the next step, the facility in Moses Lake will convert the polyacrylic fibers into the actual carbon fibers. These fibers are then processed into light weight carbon fiber fabrics at a second joint venture site in Wackersdorf, Germany.

The CFRP parts and components will then be made from these fabrics at the BMW Group Plant Landshut, Germany. The assembly of the Megacity Vehicle will take place at the BMW Group plant in Leipzig, Germany where currently a range of BMW 1 Series and the BMW X1 are being built.

BMW Says ActiveE Fleet Will Be Large as MINI E Fleet

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:57:39 +0000

BMW has issued a statement in response to inaccurate reports that have stated that the fleet of electric ActiveE models used in the lease program in the U.S. would be limited to 200 vehicles.

BMW says that although the exact size of the fleet has yet to be confirmed, it will be at least as large as the 450-unit Mini E fleet currently in operation in the US.

The ActiveE US trial is scheduled to begin in 2011.

“I would hate for anyone to get the impression that we are backing away from our commitment to EV development or the Megacity Vehicle project. Let me reassure you that nothing could be further from the truth,” said Rich Steinberg, manager of Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy.

Steinberg went on to note the important information so far yielded from the OEM’s electric vehicle field tests. “Those lessons have already been applied in our development work. One example is the liquid heating and cooling capability for the batteries in the upcoming BMW ActiveE. This will help to optimize operating range in conditions of extreme hot and cold climates,” he explains.

In preparation for the upcoming BMW ActiveE field trial, which will begin in 2011, the BMW Group announced at the North American International Auto Show in January that it will offer one-year lease extensions to current MINI E lessees. The MINI E will be prominently featured at the New York International Auto Show from 2-11 April.

BMW Will Make Electric Cars in Leipzig

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:57:53 +0000

BMW Group will make its electric cars at its plant in Leipzig, Germany, the automaker announced on Monday.

BMW said it will make making additional investments in a number of facilities in Bavaria to produce parts for the so-called electric Megacity Vehicle.

In a joint venture with SGL Carbon, SGL Automotive Fibers GmbH & Co KG, carbon fibre fabrics will be produced in Wackersdorf and processed to CFRP components for the new vehicle at BMW Plant Landshut.

Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of BMW AG, confirmed clearly the company’s commitment to Germany as an industrial centre: “The BMW Group will build the car of the future in Leipzig with high-tech innovations from Bavaria. The main reasons behind this decision are the qualities that Germany has to offer: we have a tried and tested production network here and high levels of education and outstanding competencies at our disposal.”

BMW plans to launch an entire family of electric vehicles from the Megacity subcompact, which is designed for major metropolitan areas. BMW hasn’t decided on a production name for the car.

The first, named Megacity Vehicle is due to come off the line in mid-2013.

The Leipzig plant produces the 1-series and the X1. In January BMW showed an electric 1-series Concept ActiveE to demonstrate its thinking on electric drivetrains.