RE: Electric BMW 1-Series Breaks Cover
Thursday 17th December 2009
BMW is set to reveal its second all-electric car - the 1-series Coupe-based BMW ActiveE - at the Detroit show in January.
The electric motor manages to furnish the 1-series coupe with 168bhp and 184lb ft of torque. Both of which sound like fairly respectable figures until you factor in the 1800kg kerb weight courtesy of all those batteries. That's 425kg heavier than the similarly powerful 120i Coupe. Even so, the ActiveE scrambles to 62mph from rest in less than nine seconds.
Electric BMW 1-Series Breaks Cover
Lease-only ActiveE offers four seats and 100 mile range
The ActiveE follows hot on the heels of the MiniE, and uses similar lithium ion battery tech, but this time to drive the rear wheels.
Like the MiniE, the ActiveE will be leased to a select few 'preferred' BMW customers, and will also form a significant part of the car fleet for the 2012 London Olympics.
The ActiveE is rear-wheel drive and draws its power from battery packs both in the 'engine' bay and beneath the boot floor in the rear axle casing, making the car a full four-seater (unlike the two-seat MiniE).
Top speed is limited to 90mph in order to help protect battery life. BMW claims a real-world range of around 100 miles, a figure helped by recuperative braking that extends the cars battery life by up to 20 per cent.
As for us, we'd want one for those snazzy 'blue-wall' tyres alone. Or maybe not...
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Discussion
I won't go so far as to say that this car is pointless but it really isn't far off...a ridiculously high kerb weight and a 100 mile range? Hardly a practical car is it?
And more fundamentally why do people and car manufacturers think that electric powered cars are the future? It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
I admit that we do need to be more environmentally friendly but a wholesale shift to another source of power for our vehicles is not a solution, it will not end the problem and miraculously cure the issue of carbon emissions. It'll shift the focus to a politically acceptable source more than anything...
I hate to say it but there is a lot of money to be made out of these new 'clean' cars and fuels etc, so anyone who thinks that a publicly owned corporation is trying to save the planet out of the goodness of their heart is so incredibly naive and misinformed it beggars belief.
Surely hydrogen power has to be pursued as a long term source of power for vehicles. Yes this has its downsides but it's not so blatantly hypocritcal as electric power...
And more fundamentally why do people and car manufacturers think that electric powered cars are the future? It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
I admit that we do need to be more environmentally friendly but a wholesale shift to another source of power for our vehicles is not a solution, it will not end the problem and miraculously cure the issue of carbon emissions. It'll shift the focus to a politically acceptable source more than anything...
I hate to say it but there is a lot of money to be made out of these new 'clean' cars and fuels etc, so anyone who thinks that a publicly owned corporation is trying to save the planet out of the goodness of their heart is so incredibly naive and misinformed it beggars belief.
Surely hydrogen power has to be pursued as a long term source of power for vehicles. Yes this has its downsides but it's not so blatantly hypocritcal as electric power...
100 mile range just not long enough really is it. 90mph is a reasonable top speed for most of the population, but i suppose on a really long trip this is a lot of peoples 'cruising' speed. electric cars are getting better, but they just aren't ready yet. keep getting the big manufacturers working on them and who knows, one day they will be, but not yet.
all in my opinion of course.
BMW: stop making these and X1's, X6M's and X5M's and make an M3csl!!!
all in my opinion of course.
BMW: stop making these and X1's, X6M's and X5M's and make an M3csl!!!
Edited by E21_Ross on Thursday 17th December 13:16
CraigGTI6 said:
It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
Spot on, unfortunately the vast majority of eco-losers and even the general public are short sighted, and can only focus on one thing at a time!jonesyx said:
CraigGTI6 said:
It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
Spot on, unfortunately the vast majority of eco-losers and even the general public are short sighted, and can only focus on one thing at a time!when is the last time you drove more than 100 miles in a single trip? (silence from proffessional drivers / salesmen please we all know you will need to refuel in less than 3 hours). 100 miles is the best part of a 2 hour commute. if you can recharge your car at work (most electric cars will recharge in less than 6 hours). i know very few people who commute more than 60 miles in a day. Most cars also have more than one car these days. Hell even for a london taxi driver averaging 15 mph in the city centre 100 miles works out as nearly 7 hours of driving. If you charged the car over a lunch hour you would probably get a full 37 hour week of driving.
Having said this given the inevitable premium in price I don't see why they don't go for a 5 series. This is allready heavy so the extra weight makes less difference dynamically and allready expensive so the premium makes less difference and the company car tax bands are higher so owners would make a greater saving over the allready economical 118d.
Having said this given the inevitable premium in price I don't see why they don't go for a 5 series. This is allready heavy so the extra weight makes less difference dynamically and allready expensive so the premium makes less difference and the company car tax bands are higher so owners would make a greater saving over the allready economical 118d.
jonesyx said:
CraigGTI6 said:
It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
Spot on, unfortunately the vast majority of eco-losers and even the general public are short sighted, and can only focus on one thing at a time!It isn't all about 'ecomentalists', I for one remain a skeptic about climate change, but it is undeniable that oil wont last forever, and that we need to find a viable, long term replacement.
It makes me angry to see how ignorant people are in the face of a technology that is in its very early stages of development.
Escort Si-130 said:
Electric cars are not green, unless the power stations are hydro or solar, which they are not, then its a waste of time.
'Well to wheel' they're actually already more efficient than gasoline engined cars once you take supply and refinement infrastructure into account.But you're right, the main issue is power generation
The Wookie said:
Escort Si-130 said:
Electric cars are not green, unless the power stations are hydro or solar, which they are not, then its a waste of time.
'Well to wheel' they're actually already more efficient than gasoline engined cars once you take supply and refinement infrastructure into account.But you're right, the main issue is power generation
True to a point. An Electric car taking it's energy from the grid still uses only around 30% (max) of the total fuel that a regular petrol/diesel car would. Still not 100% green by any means. But a damn sight greener than any other internal combustion powered car out there today.
That said.. This car is still 100% pointless. Just like the Mini E, even if you did think it was great, you can't buy one if you wanted one.
While im here.. Did you know that the patent for one of the better battery technologies that was used for a while by Toyota in the short lived RAV 4 EV, was snapped up by Exxon? Then they sat on it and wouldn't let anyone use it. Hmm, I wonder why..
Turns out the oil rich Saudi's have their paws on a few of the better battery patents. So even if the oil ran out tomorrow, they will still be rubbing their hands together with all the money we'll still be sending their way.The technology has existed for years to build truly decent electric cars. But half the reason you can't realistically buy one yet, is because of backhanded BS like that.
PJR said:
While im here.. Did you know that the patent for one of the better battery technologies that was used for a while by Toyota in the short lived RAV 4 EV, was snapped up by Exxon? Then they sat on it and wouldn't let anyone use it. Hmm, I wonder why.. Turns out the oil rich Saudi's have their paws on a few of the better battery patents. So even if the oil ran out tomorrow, they will still be rubbing their hands together with all the money we'll still be sending their way.
The technology has existed for years to build truly decent electric cars. But half the reason you can't realistically buy one yet, is because of backhanded BS like that.
Crumbs that's sneaky! Turns out the oil rich Saudi's have their paws on a few of the better battery patents. So even if the oil ran out tomorrow, they will still be rubbing their hands together with all the money we'll still be sending their way.The technology has existed for years to build truly decent electric cars. But half the reason you can't realistically buy one yet, is because of backhanded BS like that.
PJR said:
That said.. This car is still 100% pointless. Just like the Mini E, even if you did think it was great, you can't buy one if you wanted one.
While im here.. Did you know that the patent for one of the better battery technologies that was used for a while by Toyota in the short lived RAV 4 EV, was snapped up by Exxon? Then they sat on it and wouldn't let anyone use it. Hmm, I wonder why.. Turns out the oil rich Saudi's have their paws on a few of the better battery patents. So even if the oil ran out tomorrow, they will still be rubbing their hands together with all the money we'll still be sending their way.
The technology has existed for years to build truly decent electric cars. But half the reason you can't realistically buy one yet, is because of backhanded BS like that.
I agree, it is totally pointless, and it will continue to be pointless until the tech develops to a point where it overtakes a conventional car in all of the areas that matter to the buyer.While im here.. Did you know that the patent for one of the better battery technologies that was used for a while by Toyota in the short lived RAV 4 EV, was snapped up by Exxon? Then they sat on it and wouldn't let anyone use it. Hmm, I wonder why..
Turns out the oil rich Saudi's have their paws on a few of the better battery patents. So even if the oil ran out tomorrow, they will still be rubbing their hands together with all the money we'll still be sending their way.The technology has existed for years to build truly decent electric cars. But half the reason you can't realistically buy one yet, is because of backhanded BS like that.
I don't resent a country with an economy based on a finite resource investing for the future by buying up intellectual rights. As for oil companies sitting on tech it wouldn't surprise me at all.
CraigGTI6 said:
I won't go so far as to say that this car is pointless but it really isn't far off...a ridiculously high kerb weight and a 100 mile range? Hardly a practical car is it?
Absolute rubbish.My commute from Hertford to Welwyn is 6 miles, so comes in at 60 miles per week. This costs me between ten and fifteen pounds in fuel for the S2000. I don't care that it weighs 1800kgs or will only do 60 in nine seconds...I never get to 60 on my commute...and whatever speed I do get to takes me more than nine seconds!
A car with bmw build and interior finish (Lets be honest, the S2k doesn't come close to the quality of the 3 series it replaced) that I can drive silently to and from work all week, then use to shop at the weekend. It even has enough range to get back to my parents house in Lincolnshire.
..and I'd NEVER have to visit a petrol station, or pay tax, or congestion charge..I'd be all over this if I could lease one.
Final point - electric car charging points have been installed outside the main building where I work. I wouldn't even have to pay to charge the batteries!
100 mile range? Plesae tell me that's a joke....
I did 600 miles yesterday - in about 8 hours
With the BMW I would have done 100 miles - a 6 hour charge - another 100 miles - a 6 hour recharge etc etc....... So my 8 hour journey would have become about 5 days...
Now I know that this sort of thing is aimed squarely at the commuter - But surely 100 miles is a joke
That's before you factor in things like the likely increase in pedestrian deaths - Because 'They didn't hear it coming'
I did 600 miles yesterday - in about 8 hours
With the BMW I would have done 100 miles - a 6 hour charge - another 100 miles - a 6 hour recharge etc etc....... So my 8 hour journey would have become about 5 days...
Now I know that this sort of thing is aimed squarely at the commuter - But surely 100 miles is a joke
That's before you factor in things like the likely increase in pedestrian deaths - Because 'They didn't hear it coming'
I haven't seen "Who Killed the Electric Car", but something I remember from reading reviews was that the cars were all leased and then scrapped afterwards- electric-nut buyers who wanted to hold onto theirs couldn't. Can anyone think of a reason for this? Not wanting to sully your brand with a short life expectancy, for example?
Some really good points there. Really well said 
CraigGTI6 said:
I won't go so far as to say that this car is pointless but it really isn't far off...a ridiculously high kerb weight and a 100 mile range? Hardly a practical car is it?
And more fundamentally why do people and car manufacturers think that electric powered cars are the future? It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
I admit that we do need to be more environmentally friendly but a wholesale shift to another source of power for our vehicles is not a solution, it will not end the problem and miraculously cure the issue of carbon emissions. It'll shift the focus to a politically acceptable source more than anything...
I hate to say it but there is a lot of money to be made out of these new 'clean' cars and fuels etc, so anyone who thinks that a publicly owned corporation is trying to save the planet out of the goodness of their heart is so incredibly naive and misinformed it beggars belief.
Surely hydrogen power has to be pursued as a long term source of power for vehicles. Yes this has its downsides but it's not so blatantly hypocritcal as electric power...
And more fundamentally why do people and car manufacturers think that electric powered cars are the future? It makes me so angry to think of all the eco-mentalists who believe that these so called green cars are going to save our planet. Perhaps if they'd watched Channel 4 news' report from China this week where the vast majority of the earth's resources of heavy or rare earth elements are mined they might get down off their recycled soap box and think about the implications of trying to make battery powered cars the future. Sure your wonderful little eco-box will not burn the fossil fuels you hate so much, but what about the Chinese farmer whose land is useless due to the waste by-products of the elements mined that are required for the battery in said box? Ignorance is bliss eh?
I admit that we do need to be more environmentally friendly but a wholesale shift to another source of power for our vehicles is not a solution, it will not end the problem and miraculously cure the issue of carbon emissions. It'll shift the focus to a politically acceptable source more than anything...
I hate to say it but there is a lot of money to be made out of these new 'clean' cars and fuels etc, so anyone who thinks that a publicly owned corporation is trying to save the planet out of the goodness of their heart is so incredibly naive and misinformed it beggars belief.
Surely hydrogen power has to be pursued as a long term source of power for vehicles. Yes this has its downsides but it's not so blatantly hypocritcal as electric power...
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