BMW Mega City Car options

[malcolm]

Autocar - BMW confirms electric city car

One model will be ICE, the other all-electric.

 

[Joseph]

I hope they bring it to America. Considering that BMW is making it, I hope it ends up being a genuinely nice car. Not some Smart Fortwo.

 

[Finkenbusch]

Good news indeed.

just wait for the PARIS auto show in four weeks in FRANCE.

The socks of many EV wannabes will be blown of for good
by a avalanche of economically drivable EV city cars by many experienced producers.

 

[TEG]

Perhaps under the iSetta name.

 

[vfx]

Not sure if this is the same "Mega city" car since it is now in France.

Mega City introduces no-frills e-City Pro electric car

The model, which has no power windows, no alloy wheels. no radio, and no rear wiper, is sold in white, for companies and institutions to paint in their own colors. Lawrence Holland, general manager of Aixam Mega in the UK, said: "By cutting back on extras the e-City Pro offers all the functionality of the Mega range at a significantly reduced cost." The car still retains the 40mph maximum speed and 40-mile range (it has lead batteries)

 

[dpeilow]

No, it isn't.

 

[vfx]

No, it isn't.

So this car needs it's own AIXAM Mega City thread.

 

[walk_n_wind]

From the article:

The electric-powered microcar will comply with Californian regulations, which dictate that by 2012 a fuel cell or battery-powered vehicle must have a range of over 200 miles.

Yikes, CA isn't messing around.

 

[dpeilow]

So this car needs it's own AIXAM Mega City thread.

It sort of does here (they used to be distributed by NICE).

From the article: 200 miles

Yikes, CA isn't messing around.

Really, I thought this was a 40 mile NEV


EDIT: wrong microcar...

 

[dpeilow]

From BMW's green stunner | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

In a related story, BMW has confirmed an electric city car is coming, following in the wheel tracks of 1994’s Z13 concept. But bosses have scotched rumours that this will resurrect the Isetta name. Instead, they say it will be a BMW, with a new badge similar to the firm’s M cars – it could be called E or EV. A Samsung and Bosch joint venture will supply the car’s lithium-ion batteries. Sales are due to start in 2014.

 

[TEG]

Autocar - BMW confirms electric city car

...The electric-powered microcar will comply with Californian regulations, which dictate that by 2012 a fuel cell or battery-powered vehicle must have a range of over 200 miles...

Does anyone know more of this 200 mile regulation?
What of cars like Mini-E, CODA, Leaf, etc, that don't beat 200 mile range ?!

 

[vfx]

Never heard of such a thing.

Maybe there is some greater ZEV credit for a car with 200 mile range.

 

[doug]

I think I remember reading about that 200 mile range thing a while back. Yet another way CARB was/is trying to favor HFCVs.

 

[vfx]

Found this.

What Happened at CA Air Resources Board on ZEV? You Decide!
Apr 7, 2008 (From the CalCars-News archive)

2. As mentioned above, the ARB Board increased the number of pure-ZEVs (gold) vehicles during the 2012-2014 timeframe from the staff-proposed number of 2,500 (FCVs) to 7,500, but the actual number of vehicles varies by type (as explained below). The Board also agreed to increase credits for FCVs that get 300+ miles range, up from 4 credits for a FCV that gets less than 200 miles range (and probably now changed to less than 300 miles range), to 7 credits (wow!) for an FCV that gets 300 miles range or more.

And

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/02/proposed-change.html

The Type IV ZEV is a ZEV with at least 200 miles range that is fast refuel capable (e.g, a fuel-cell vehicle such as the Honda FCX Clarity).

 

[TEG]

Sounds like "must have" was too strong a phrase to use... More like "will have more incentives if it has"...

 

[dpeilow]

REPORT: BMW to focus on premium, upmarket EVs — Autoblog Green

 

[dpeilow]

So is this where the Mini E project is leading?

BMW's new baby zeroes in on Fiesta | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

Efficiency is a priority. A range of powerful but clean petrol and diesel motors should make this the most frugal BMW ever. A development of the 161bhp 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel, which debuted as a range extender on the Vision EfficientDynamics Concept, may be among the choices, while an all-electric powertrain will follow at a later date.

The 0-Series will form part of BMW’s Project ‘i’ range – a new breed of ultra-efficient cars featuring electric, petrol, hybrid and diesel variants with two, three or four wheels. Expect the 0-Series to go into production as soon as 2012, meaning a concept car could be as little as 18 months away.