BMW Launches Its First Electric Vehicle, While U.S. EV Sales Double In First Six Months Of 2013

[think]

Source: Forbes

Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Contributor - Energy
7/29/2013 @ 11:05AM |11,903 views

The positive trend continues for electric vehicles. Today, BMW unveiled its first mass-produced electric vehicle, the BMW i3, which is expected to reach U.S. markets in 2014, at a cost just over $41,000 (before incentives or federal tax credit). For customers wanting to tackle the issue of ‘range anxiety’ – the fear of running out of electric charge – another $4,000 will get you a small gasoline-powered back-up motor. BMW’s Chief Executive Norbert Reithofer is quoted in the Wall Street Journal as positioning the firm for the coming decades. In order to comply with current and anticipated regulations, Reithofer indicated “we need about 30% plug-in hybrids and battery electric vehicles for the year 2025.”

While at least one analyst calculates the firm will lose almost $200 million Euros annually on the i3, BWM insists the car will be sold at a profit. The Journal notes that Daimler and General Motor’s Cadillac brand are also working on luxury electric vehicles. Of course, their main target is likely to be the Tesla Model S, which is now capable of producing cars at a rate of 400 a week, and expecting to double that rate by 2014. Tesla’s Model S has a base sticker price of $69,900 (including federal tax credit), but it has plans to roll out a Gen3 car by 2016/17 for half that price, which will help it compete with the likes of BMW.

All of these car companies are positioning themselves with the expectation that the market will be there. Recent news from the U.S. on that front is somewhat encouraging: Sales of EVs for the first half of 2013 reached 41,447 according to autos.aol.com, over twice the rate of sales in 2012. While this represents just over 1% of total U.S. auto sales, the trend is currently moving in the right direction. Thirteen models of plug-ins now populate our roads, and more are coming.

It may still be too early to predict whether the U.S. will see the 1.8 million EV’s in 2020 forecast by Pike Research. However, it is worth noting that the current EV adoption rate exceeds that of the Toyota Prius in the first thirty months after it was introduced (over 110,000 versus 50,000). In the years since, the Prius has become one of the most popular vehicles on American roads – last year 236,000 were sold. The EV trend continues to pick up momentum and continues to bear watching.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/07/29/bmw-launches-its-first-electric-vehicle-while-u-s-ev-sales-double-in-first-six-months-of-2013/

[KeepItReal]

1. BMW needs to take the i3 styling back to the drawing board

This thing makes the Chevy Volt look like a Ferrari

[jakeXT]

2. I like the i8, but I doubt something like that will be built

[KeepItReal]

3. The BMW i8 is supposed to go into production next year as a 2015 model

It is going to be priced well over $100K

[ErikJ]

4. But I need a mini-van! Why no electric mini-vans?

Driving me crazy.

[7962]

8. A van is almost ALWAYS better than a truck or SUV

I've had all three, and the work I do requires a LOT of moving stuff as well as driving. A van gets better mileage, rides better and is a lot cheaper on insurance too.
And whoever coined the term "minivan" ought to be horsewhipped. That term made the vehicle "uncool" to so many. MAny call it a "mommyvan". Its a VAN dammit.
OK, I'll get off my soapbox.....

[ErikJ]

10. Fuck what's cool. I cant afford to fool around with "fashion"

I need a vehicle that gets good mileage and can haul the maximum amount. A Caravan can haul twice as much volume as any SUV and get tweice the milegae. Fuck SUVs and Pickups.

[7962]

11. Amen to that!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Regular gas stations are going to be FORCED to offer a recharge....

Especially the ones in remote areas.

[think]

6. Would be nice to see the market forces favor clean energy....

[Spitfire of ATJ]

7. There's an attitude that has to cost more even though the "fuel" is free.

[7962]

9. I hope EVs are a success, but I wish we would start pushing NG too

Natural Gas vehicles are a lot cleaner but we have the chicken/egg problem. No one wants to buy them because there are s few filling stations, and they wont build more filling stations until there is a greater demand.
Some days I drive over 500 miles, so I need a car that can do that without me worrying about getting stranded. Right now a Hyundai built in alabama gets about 40mpg on the road, so thats probably my next vehicle.