Photo: bmw
It’s not a surprise by all means but we just thought that you might want to know that the BMW i3 is now a finalist for the coveted title of Green Car of the Year for 2014. The complete list was just announced and it doesn’t include any surprises.
The Bimmer is one of the favorites especially because it’s the only car here that was created as an EV from the ground up. All the others, no matter how complex or how much tech they embody, are just conversions of conventional cars that are meant to be more eco-friendly.
The i3 on the other hand is the culmination of a long and exhaustive research that spread over 1 million miles covered by volunteers who drove electric MINIs and 1 Series to see how they would fare in daily driving conditions.
The data obtained offered BMW a clear image as to how a car is used inside a big city and what it would have to to. Therefore, the i3 was launched with its unconventional looks, small size and peculiar construction.
It’s made of aluminum, magnesium and CFRP and has a kerb weight of just over 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs) including the batteries. Thanks to this construction and its special wheels, the 170 HP and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) engine it will do 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds and cover up to 100 miles (160 km) in one charge, numbers that can’t be matched by any other car in this list in the real world.
That’s because it uses a 3.6-liter hardened engine that can use Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative to petrol. The special CNG tank can allow you to cover around 250 km (150 miles) inside the city without sipping one drop of conventional fuel.
Other than that, the rest of the list is comprised of highly efficient vehicles that offer mind-blowing numbers but none of them can come close to the eco-friendly characteristics of the i3 however. Sure, the pricing might have a say in all this as well but hopefully, the i3 can still claim the title.
The i3 on the other hand is the culmination of a long and exhaustive research that spread over 1 million miles covered by volunteers who drove electric MINIs and 1 Series to see how they would fare in daily driving conditions.
The data obtained offered BMW a clear image as to how a car is used inside a big city and what it would have to to. Therefore, the i3 was launched with its unconventional looks, small size and peculiar construction.
It’s made of aluminum, magnesium and CFRP and has a kerb weight of just over 1,200 kg (2,645 lbs) including the batteries. Thanks to this construction and its special wheels, the 170 HP and 184 lb-ft (250 Nm) engine it will do 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds and cover up to 100 miles (160 km) in one charge, numbers that can’t be matched by any other car in this list in the real world.
Enough of the i3, what about the competition?
Speaking of which, other names that made it to the final include the Chevrolet Impala Bi-Fuel, the Honda Fit hatchback, Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3 TDI. As you can see, only the Impala could pose a serious threat to the i3 as it is the only one that actually has some sort of new technology on it.That’s because it uses a 3.6-liter hardened engine that can use Compressed Natural Gas as an alternative to petrol. The special CNG tank can allow you to cover around 250 km (150 miles) inside the city without sipping one drop of conventional fuel.
Other than that, the rest of the list is comprised of highly efficient vehicles that offer mind-blowing numbers but none of them can come close to the eco-friendly characteristics of the i3 however. Sure, the pricing might have a say in all this as well but hopefully, the i3 can still claim the title.
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