11-15-2013, 12:15 PM | #1 |
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BMW i3 Deliveries Begin
BIMMERPOST NEWS BMW i3 Deliveries Begin First electric vehicles presented to the customers Munich - November 15, 2013... The BMW i3 will be available in Germany and selected European markets from the 16 November. The first customers from Germany collected their cars from the BMW Welt in Munich a day earlier. The keys were formally presented by Ian Robertson, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW and Roland Krüger, Senior Vice President, Head of Sales and Marketing Germany for the BMW Group, in a special ceremony. The head of the Bavarian State Chancellor’s Office and State Minister for Federal Affairs and Special Tasks, Christine Haderthauer, and Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE, Oliver Bäte, were also among the first BMW i customers. “Today marks a milestone in the history of the BMW Group, as we hand over our first BMW i premium electric vehicle to customers. In doing so, we are bringing sustainable mobility to the roads,” said Ian Robertson during presentation of the keys. “Innovative vehicles need innovative distribution channels. For this reason, the BMW i3 can now also be ordered over the phone and online. However, the most important role in distribution is still that of our retail partners. We are delighted to have 46 carefully chosen BMW i agents in Germany, who are investing in the future of BMW i with us,” added Roland Krüger. Over the coming months, the BMW i3 will be introduced in a large number of European markets. In 2014, the BMW i3 will also be launched in the US, Japan, China and Korea. “The BMW i3 is typical BMW and typical Bavaria. It combines Top Innovation, Top Design and Top Sustainability. This is why we are convinced that the Bavarian State Chancellery should be one of the first customers. Emission free electro-mobility thanks to the BMW i3, this concept will be a great success and a Bavarian export hit. The future of auto-mobility begins now and it is white and blue”, noted State Minister Christine Haderthauer. Electro-mobility also in demand for business fleets The BMW i3 appeals to fleet customers as well as retail customers. Electric vehicles offer efficient, sustainable solutions for a complementary mix of drive trains in company fleets. Allianz SE is one of the first BMW i3 fleet customers. “By integrating E-cards into the Allianz fleet, we are supporting the mobility solutions of today and tomorrow. We want to increase the acceptance of E-cars,” says Oliver Bäte Member of the Board of Management of Allianz SE on the collection of his car. “Currently, already 10% of our management fleet have E-vehicles; this is how we bring the future on to the road. The reactions of staff and clients are all very positive. Driving on electricity is something good – and it’s even fun.” The BMW Group’s fleet management and leasing specialist, Alphabet, has developed a product called “AlphaElectric” to meet the special requirements of its fleet customers. The first comprehensive E-mobility solution on the market offers smooth integration of electric vehicles into company fleets in just three steps: analysis of the customer’s mobility profile; definition of appropriate charging infrastructure; and the flexible combination of add-on services. Gerhard Eble, Managing Director of Innovative Hausverwaltungen Eble (Ratingen): “For years I have wanted for a German manufacturer to bring an appealing electric car to the market. As soon as BMW introduced the BMW i3, I was immediately enthusiastic.” Dr. Ingo Holz, Managing Director of BEOS AG (Berlin): “As soon as BMW unveiled the BMW i3 study two years ago, straight away I was excited and soon after ordered the car. Two years later I am able to sit behind the wheel.” Dr. Roman Dudenhausen, Founder and Member of the Board of Directors con/energy ag (Essen): “My electro-age as an energy expert and employer is beginning with my purchase of the BMW. I am pleased to be one of the first to be able to use the completely newly developed car that stands for systematic sustainability.” Thomas Aich (Ettlingen): “I drive a lot all around town. Therefore, the efficient BMW i3 is obviously optimal for me.” The BMW i3 The BMW i3 is the BMW Group’s first series-produced electric vehicle and represents a new type of sustainable mobility for urban areas. The concept, with its unique vehicle architecture, also calls for the use of modern, lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), and innovative and pioneering production processes. With a range of 130 to 160 kilometres, the BMW i3 meets the mobility needs of customers in urban areas. Charging can be done at home, at work or at public charging stations. The BMW Group also offers a comprehensive “360° ELECTRIC” product and service package for the BMW i3, based on four pillars: home charging; charging at public charging stations; guaranteed mobility; and integration of innovative mobility concepts. These include services such as the BMW i Wallbox Pure for rapid vehicle charging at home; extensive ConnectedDrive functions in the car itself for smart phones; as well as the ChargeNow card, which assures drivers unlimited access to public charging infrastructure on the go. Furthermore, BMW i is working towards expanding the public charging infrastructure, including convenient reservation and payment systems in conjunction with its various partners. |
11-15-2013, 06:18 PM | #2 |
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Any word on whether US customers will be able to take delivery at Welt via European Delivery?
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11-15-2013, 07:59 PM | #3 | |
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Getting it back, should be no worse than any vehicle, unless you wanted to try to pick it up at the Performance Center...then, getting home might be problematic. |
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11-16-2013, 08:36 AM | #6 | |
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11-16-2013, 09:34 AM | #7 |
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That's a nice looking outfit she has on...
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11-16-2013, 11:20 AM | #8 |
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11-16-2013, 01:43 PM | #9 |
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11-16-2013, 02:32 PM | #10 |
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From what I understand, and the things aren't available here in the USA yet, the stock vehicle can do level 1 and 2 charging out of the box...to get level 3, requires an option.
Level 1 - time for full charge about 8-hours Level 2 - time for full charge about 3-hours Level 3 - time for full charge about 30-minutes Obviously, if your battery isn't discharged all the way, your times should be shorter, maybe a lot shorter. It would be highly unlikely to have the available power inputs to use a level 3 charger at a typical residence, but level 1 (straight 20A 110vac plug) or level 2 (similar to an electric dryer circuit) are readily available. Most of the public chargers I've seen (and there aren't that many around) are level 2 chargers. The cost for the level 3 chargers is quite a bit higher. I expect more to show up, but they are in the minority, at least in the USA for right now. |
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11-16-2013, 07:45 PM | #11 |
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Carol Burnett looks good, especially for her age. She has one hell of a good plastic surgeon, I'd say. She's in her 80s now isn't she? You go, girl.
I'm so glad we had this time together...
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11-16-2013, 08:11 PM | #12 | |
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I think most folks could probably stand to be "stuck" somewhere for 30 minutes while their car charges -- mall, restaurant, gym, doctor's office, grocery store, etc. Three hours is just too long, and eight is just nuts, even if there were charging stations everywhere just as gas stations are. I think too that it's ironic that Level 3 charging uses the form of electricity that T. A. Edison promoted years and years ago. I wonder what the electricity suppliers' method is to overcome Ohm's Law? (http://www.pump-zone.com/topics/moto...us-dc/page/0/1)
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11-16-2013, 08:45 PM | #13 |
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A level 3 charger uses 50Kw/hr or so, it's an energy hog, which is why the average home won't likely have one, nor would they want to spend the money for that high power DC power supply! The power grid may have issues with it as well.
Everyone wants longer range, and that requires the ability to dump lots of energy into the batteries in a reasonable time. BMW is upping the ante by making the car both safe and light(er) that what was available before. Higher density batteries will come around, but they'll still need some way to fill them back up. Technology is in the labs to up the energy density of the batteries by maybe an order of magnitude, and make recharging more efficient, and the same charger may get the faster recharge when the batteries catch up, so that 3-hour home charger may then become more efficient. But, you have to start somewhere, and technology needs some money and impetus to develop...the I-series is a good start...have to start somewhere. |
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11-16-2013, 10:12 PM | #14 |
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Not trying to be snarky but it's 50kW's, not 50kW/hr
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11-17-2013, 01:05 AM | #15 |
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First. This level thing is just crap. Or marketing.
The time it takes to charge depends on both the chargers capacity and the size of the battery in the car. Example: A 50 KW chademo or ccs charger can charge a Leaf or i3 in less than 30 minutes. But the same charger can charge a Tesla S in about 100 minutes. Why? Because the Teslas battery is much bigger. And yes, the i3 can do 50 KW DC charging afaik. But afaik it has the ccs connector so there needs to be a ccs station for it to work. Dont know if there is a chademo adapter available. |
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11-17-2013, 03:13 AM | #16 |
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Charging ... Why do you guys imply that the batteries HAVE TO BE recharged from empty to 100% every time? Because those are times for exactly that: recharging completely drained battery to 100% charged level. How many times will you do that?
The point is that you charge the car every time you have a chance & for the time you have available. Eg. you can charge the car for 5 minutes @ Level 3 charger (eg refilling the batteries from 70% to 85%). And you go eg. the supermarket for a 20 minutes, and you recharged the car in the meantime from eg. 40% to 100%. It's not like you'll ALWAYS recharge the car from empty to 100%, and will have to wait the whole charging time for the full recharge (8 hours / 3 hours / 30 minutes). The charging times can be & will be shorter. Algorithm of recharging the EV is different from the algorithm of refueling the ICE car. It's not like you go to the charging station when the "empty fuel tank indicator" lits up - just like you usually do with the ICE car. You just charge the EV every time when possible, and for the much time as possible. Being that for an hour, refilling the batteries for just 10% (eg. from 50% to 60%), so be it. Also the on-board navigation / trip computer has got a very exact algorithm so you can actually plan your trips / drives & charging very precisely. Eg. if your trip (from A to B & back) requires 70% of the battery power in the worst scenario - and you have only 60% of power available, the software will suggest eg to charge the car @ certain level charger on the route for a certain time to reach / exceed the required battery power for the trip. That irrational range-angst (and charging-time-angst) is actually becoming more of a pandemic phobia already - mostly due to ignorance & lack of knowledge / experience with EV. Eg. the EV testers (MINI E & 1er ActiveE drivers) have overcome this angst very quickly & have mastered the charging & trip planning (even without sophisticated apps & navi software as available in i3) in a few weeks. But I understand the confusion - since the paradigm is completely different in the ICEV vs EV. Anyway ... for those who still want to have a plan B - get a i3 with REx. The ICE starts charging the battery automatically when the power reserve drops to 3.5%, but you can force start the ICE anytime when battery power drops to 75% or lower - maintaining the power at that level & save the full-electric range for later part of the trip (eg. when driving across the city center). But it's still recommendable to recharge the batteries as soon as possible - and using the REx for the emergency & limited situations only. Since the REx is more of a Plan B solution, not a Plan A feature. |
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11-17-2013, 04:22 AM | #17 |
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Level 3 standard is more a problem of cost. I was at my dealer 10 days ago and had a quick talk about i3/i8 and charging station. The charging station level 2 that people will be able to buy for their home is priced at 3000,- swiss francs. +/- 3300,- Usd or 2400,- Euros. This dealer will get a charging station of level 3 which costs 40000,- swiss francs (44000 Usd or 32500 Euros). I m not sure that all buyers of an i3 are ready to pay this amount of money for a charging station of L3.
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11-17-2013, 05:57 AM | #18 | |
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And can we stop talking about levels since it's just pr/marketing please. And start talking about Type x Mode y since that actually refers to different charging standards... Or chademo or CCS of course... |
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11-17-2013, 06:38 AM | #19 | |
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And commenting to your statement in bold. The reason people wait to fill up the "fuel" tank in an ICE car when it is empty is because ICE-power vehicles provide a driving range that far exceeds normal daily travel needs and there is a gas station usually within a few miles and minutes of where you are, and it only take 5 minutes to fill up for another tank of 350 miles range (i.e. the opposite of this is the definition of "range anxiety"). |
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11-17-2013, 07:27 AM | #20 | |
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Yes, DC fast charge (incorrectly called Level 3 here but that's another story) are very expensive, but the price is quickly coming down. It wasn't long ago when they were $50,000 US but now recently I have seem them as little as $10,000 US. Still way too expensive for anyone to consider buying one for personal use, but the lower prices bring hoe that we will see more of them installed in public venues in the dear future.
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11-18-2013, 01:53 AM | #21 | |
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11-18-2013, 04:50 AM | #22 | |
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I guess the needed charge times are very individual. In addition always thinking about the "full charge" times is not really the point for most of the customers. Typically you recharge already when battery is only 50% down (or do you wait for your smartphone to turn off before you plug it in to charge?).
For my use case 130-160km per day (I assume that over night L1 charge will always bring it to 100% in the morning) is quite sufficient. So for shopping, driving to work, etc. a 60km one way range is sufficient. So I don't even require > L1 charge. If my company has a L1 charge, it would also be sufficient as the car parks there hours over day. A L2 or higher is making it more convenient, yes. BMW is not targeting customers which have the need to drive more than >150km/day regulary. They're not really in focus for the i3 and BMW said so at the IAA in Frankfurt and also at our dealer here in Germany. Their main customer group has a need of 70-100km/day. For exceptional case you can get a rebated rental car. But if someone permanently drive more than the battery provides, he's just not on the target group for the car. The i3 is not supposed to replace long distance travel cars like the Tesla Model S is - for a quite higher price. Quote:
Last edited by NorthBuddy; 11-18-2013 at 05:00 AM.. |
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