This week, Australia finally received the long-awaited BMW i3, the company's first electric vehicle. In a big festivity held in Melbourne, the EV was unveiled ahead of its sportier brother, the i8.
For eco-friendly Aussies this is good news, anticipating the first deliveries that will begin in 2014. Expected to cost around AUD50,000, the i3 will probably be very popular in Australia with the range extender feature.
The so-called REx will actually be a 2-cylinder scooter engine that will charge the batteries of the i3 on the go. That will keep the 170 HP electric motor running long enough to allow you to cover up to 340 km (212 miles).
At the unveiling, BMW Australia's managing director, Phil Horton was present sharing his ideas about the new car.
"Taking a holistic approach to electric vehicles, these are very much purpose-built vehicles. That is not to say that what has been on the market so far in terms of taking a standard vehicle and adding electric vehicle [drivetrains] is necessarily wrong, but clearly with the i-brand we are looking at it from a completely clean sheet of paper,” Horton said.
The so-called REx will actually be a 2-cylinder scooter engine that will charge the batteries of the i3 on the go. That will keep the 170 HP electric motor running long enough to allow you to cover up to 340 km (212 miles).
At the unveiling, BMW Australia's managing director, Phil Horton was present sharing his ideas about the new car.
"Taking a holistic approach to electric vehicles, these are very much purpose-built vehicles. That is not to say that what has been on the market so far in terms of taking a standard vehicle and adding electric vehicle [drivetrains] is necessarily wrong, but clearly with the i-brand we are looking at it from a completely clean sheet of paper,” Horton said.