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Big roll-out as BMW electric i cars charge into the market

i_dealership_in_Londons_Park_Lane_BMW_33251
The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will spearhead BMW's i range

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20 May 2013

 

The BMW i8
The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will spearhead BMW’s i range

BMW is gearing up for a big launch later this year for its new electric cars which will be marketed under the i brand.

From the start, 46 UK BMW dealers will offer the i cars – that’s a significant initial roll-out considering that each of those outlets will have to invest in specialist facilities in order to deal with the new models’ high voltage systems.

BMW i3 Coupe Concept
The fully electric i3 will roll out later this year

At the beginning, the i range will consist of two cars, the i3 and the i8. Both share much of their technology but the fully-electric i3, which will appear later this year, is designed to be a practical city runabout, while the i8 is a plug-in hybrid sports car with sleek, low bodywork to match.

The main focus will inevitably be on the i cars’ electric drivetrains but they also embody two other important innovations.

The first of these is their novel body structure which combines an aluminium chassis with extensive use of carbon fibre – probably a first for cars expected to be sold in such large numbers.

The second innovation is that the i3 and i8 will be sold with a bundle of “premium mobility services” designed to help buyers make the most efficient use of them. These include services designed to optimise the use of parking spaces, help drivers find charging points and plan routes using several modes of transport.

Access to other BMW vehicles is provided on an “on-demand” basis – a feature that should come in handy for business car drivers undertaking long journeys that would be beyond the battery-powered i3’s range of action.

BMW says that more than 6000 people have registered their interest in the i brand.

more than 6000 people have registered their interest in the i brand

According to UK Managing Director Tim Abbot “With the announcement of our BMW i retail network we are open for business and taking deposits on the i3 and i8. Our BMW i dealerships are located in the areas of the UK with the highest concentrations of population.”

“With BMW i, we are offering game-changing technology that will revolutionise the way we move through a completely new driving and ownership experience,” Abbott added.

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Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton

Ralph Morton is an award-winning journalist and the founder of Business Car Manager (now renamed Business Motoring). Ralph writes extensively about the car and van leasing industry as well as wider fleet and company car issues. A former editor of What Car?, Ralph is a vastly experienced writer and editor and has been writing about the automotive sector for over 35 years.

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