A complete 'from-empty' charge of the tester takes 24 hours and yields a range of about 160 kilometres-- making the MINI E effectively useless for rural use by many Canucks. The battery technology isn't exactly cheap or compact yet, either. In fact, the entire rear seat and much of the cargo hold was occupied by the giant lithium-ion storage units. Of course, the power stored within them isn't free, either.
As time passes, the required electric technology and hardware will become more compact and less expensive. Looking to the future, BMW’s upcoming 'Active E' 1-Series concept hits the road later this year, and gets smaller, flatter batteries and increased driving range.
So-- can an electric Mini or BMW provide the rewarding, fun-to-drive experience required of either brand? According to Tom Baloga, BMW North America's VP of Engineering, it has to be.
“Customers buying a BMW with better mileage, reduced emissions and improved comfort will always get the ultimate driving experience. The benchmark is established in this regard, and there are no compromises on that. Regardless of changes or improvements, the customer always gets a BMW at the end of the day”.
An all-electric BMW, tentatively called the ‘Megacity’, will be on sale in showrooms as a 2013 model, too.
As time passes, the required electric technology and hardware will become more compact and less expensive. Looking to the future, BMW’s upcoming 'Active E' 1-Series concept hits the road later this year, and gets smaller, flatter batteries and increased driving range.
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| A complete 'from-empty' charge of the tester takes 24 hours and yields a range of about 160 kilometres. (Photo: BMW) |
So-- can an electric Mini or BMW provide the rewarding, fun-to-drive experience required of either brand? According to Tom Baloga, BMW North America's VP of Engineering, it has to be.
“Customers buying a BMW with better mileage, reduced emissions and improved comfort will always get the ultimate driving experience. The benchmark is established in this regard, and there are no compromises on that. Regardless of changes or improvements, the customer always gets a BMW at the end of the day”.
An all-electric BMW, tentatively called the ‘Megacity’, will be on sale in showrooms as a 2013 model, too.
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