Photo: Autoblog.nl
Tomorrow's the big day, it's the day BMW will unveil what might very well be a new chapter in the company's history, the i chapter. The first car of two to wear the 'i' badge, the i3 will be unveiled in 3 locations around the world, London, New York and Beijing.
So, what does the i3 mean to the world and to BMW especially? First of all, this new car will be something the world needs. In a very well constructed article, the guys from digitaltrends.com made a very good point: the i3 need to shock the EV market if it wants to be any good.
According to them, all manufacturers that reached success with one of their models, were first to the market with a product. Sure, the i3 isn't the first all-electric vehicle out there but it is the first one built as an EV from the ground up. And that means a lot!
Just think of the wide array of apps you can use for your i3 to see whether there's a free charging station nearby or if there's an open parking spot near you that can be reserved for you in case it's needed. These are just 2 examples of new things that the i3 is bringing to the EV market.
Furthermore, this is the first EV to come from an established premium manufacturer (Tesla doesn't count. It's not nearly as well regarded as BMW in the automotive segment). How well it will be received remains to be established but, considering the price tag that starts at just over $40,000 (can get near $30,000 with tax cuts) this will be a good option for driving around town.
And that brings us to another interesting point. The i3 was developed with this purpose in mind: people use their cars mostly to get to and from work. Daily commutes make up to 85% of driving time according to BMW and that is exactly what the i3 was conceived for.
Using a car that doesn't require going to the petrol station to fill it up every week and spending almost no money on fuel is something most people will not only like but actually love. The i3 can be charged while you're at work and in 8 working hours, the batteries will be fully charged, destroying any worries regarding autonomy.
So, what are the downsides? There are almost none, excepting the range for long trips and modest numbers. Sure, the i3 is not a racing car and that's what people need to understand.
You can't expect an EV to have the same performance numbers gathered by an M3, even though they both come from the same manufacturer. This car was built for an entirely different purpose and the faster we get that in our head, the better.
On the range anxiety issue, BMW already said that it will be offering a range-extender feature if you're worried about this and, furthermore, a complementary conventional car for when you'll need to go for a long drive. That being said, what's to hold back i3 buyers? Almost nothing in our view!
According to them, all manufacturers that reached success with one of their models, were first to the market with a product. Sure, the i3 isn't the first all-electric vehicle out there but it is the first one built as an EV from the ground up. And that means a lot!
Just think of the wide array of apps you can use for your i3 to see whether there's a free charging station nearby or if there's an open parking spot near you that can be reserved for you in case it's needed. These are just 2 examples of new things that the i3 is bringing to the EV market.
Furthermore, this is the first EV to come from an established premium manufacturer (Tesla doesn't count. It's not nearly as well regarded as BMW in the automotive segment). How well it will be received remains to be established but, considering the price tag that starts at just over $40,000 (can get near $30,000 with tax cuts) this will be a good option for driving around town.
And that brings us to another interesting point. The i3 was developed with this purpose in mind: people use their cars mostly to get to and from work. Daily commutes make up to 85% of driving time according to BMW and that is exactly what the i3 was conceived for.
Using a car that doesn't require going to the petrol station to fill it up every week and spending almost no money on fuel is something most people will not only like but actually love. The i3 can be charged while you're at work and in 8 working hours, the batteries will be fully charged, destroying any worries regarding autonomy.
So, what are the downsides? There are almost none, excepting the range for long trips and modest numbers. Sure, the i3 is not a racing car and that's what people need to understand.
You can't expect an EV to have the same performance numbers gathered by an M3, even though they both come from the same manufacturer. This car was built for an entirely different purpose and the faster we get that in our head, the better.
On the range anxiety issue, BMW already said that it will be offering a range-extender feature if you're worried about this and, furthermore, a complementary conventional car for when you'll need to go for a long drive. That being said, what's to hold back i3 buyers? Almost nothing in our view!
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