BMW ActiveE

BMW ActiveE
Overview
ManufacturerBMW
Also calledBMW 1 Series ActiveE
Production2012 (1100 built)
Model years2012
DesignerChris Bangle (BMW 1 Series)
Body and chassis
ClassElectric vehicle demonstrator
Body style2-door coupe
LayoutRear-motor, rear-wheel drive
PlatformBMW 1 Series (E82/E88)
RelatedBMW 1 Series (E87)
Powertrain
Electric motor168 hp (125 kW)
Transmission1-Speed Electric Drive
Battery32.0 kWh lithium-ion battery[1]
Electric range151 km (94 mi) (EPA)[1]
Dimensions
Wheelbase14 ft 4.2 in (172.2 in; 437.4 cm)
Width5 ft 8.8 in (68.8 in; 174.8 cm)
Height4 ft 8 in (56.0 in; 142.2 cm)
Curb weight1,800 kg (4,000 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorMini E
SuccessorBMW i3, BMW i8

The BMW ActiveE was a demonstration electric car based on the BMW 1 Series small family cars. It was the second vehicle after the Mini E to be developed under BMW Group’s Project i[broken anchor]. The electric drive system was the latest addition to BMW’s EfficientDynamics programme.[2] The US Environmental Protection Agency official range is 151 kilometres (94 mi), with an energy consumption of 33 kW·h/100 miles, and the agency rated the ActiveE's combined fuel economy at 2.3L/100 km (102 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent).[1]

The four-seater, rear-wheel drive ActiveE was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January 2010.[2] Deliveries of the ActiveE for field testing in the U.S. began in January 2012, after the Mini E trial ended.[3] A total of 1,100 vehicles were planned to participate in the program worldwide, with 700 allocated for the U.S. trial [4] and 35 to a trial in China.[5][needs update] Participants in the Mini E trial had priority to lease the new electric car.[6] Production began at BMW's Leipzig plant in July 2011.[7]

After the field trial of the Mini E, BMW took reservations for drivers, who BMW calls "Electronauts", in mid-2012. The field trial of the ActiveE started in early 2012. BMW stopped accepting reservations for the ActiveE, and has leased out all of their ActiveE cars. The lease details were similar to that of the Mini E lease details, a two-year limited lease with free maintenance. The lessee had to complete online surveys and take their ActiveE into their local BMW dealership for analysis and service periodically.[citation needed]

Once the ActiveE program ended, all ActiveE cars were taken off of the road. Lessees returned their ActiveE vehicles to BMW, and were not able to purchase them. The cars were donated to tech schools or museums for analysis and disassembly, as well as for display purposes.[citation needed]

  1. ^ a b c John Voelcker (2012-01-18). "BMW ActiveE Electric Car First Drive: What's It Really Like?". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
  2. ^ a b "The BMW Concept ActiveE: The next chapter in BMW's project i Megacity Vehicle research initiative". BMW Press Release. 2009-12-17. Retrieved 2010-09-28.
  3. ^ Jim Motavalli (2012-01-12). "The Mini-E's True Believer Gets the Keys to the First BMW ActiveE". PluginCars. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
  4. ^ Tom Moloughney (2011-10-14). "First Drive: BMW ActiveE Electric Coupe". PluginCars.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  5. ^ Han Tianyang (2013-06-24). "BMW ActiveE Project starts in Beijing". China Daily. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference NYT092810 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Production was invoked but never defined (see the help page).