Official BMW i3 thread

[edatoakrun]

WSJ discussion of the unique cost factors of building lightweight BEVs.

Published on Sep 18, 2013


The new BMW i3 electric car has an expensive battery and a costly carbon fiber body. But BMW executives say they will make money on it because of the unusually low-cost way they're putting it together. Joe White has details on the News Hub.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6YmUBMh-Oo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[surfingslovak]

Battery assembly (source: Global PressClub).


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02iK5WLJuHo[/youtube]

 

[TonyWilliams]

Awesome video.

 

[surfingslovak]

Glad you liked it, Tony. Here's the prequel to the last video. This one shows how individual modules are built.


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhO0AmulKfc[/youtube]

Source: BMW Group PressClub Global

 

[surfingslovak]

Here is another video, which shows how the frame and chassis are assembled. It's in HD as well, please be sure to adjust your YouTube settings, if you wanted to see more details.

Frame and body assembly:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJxOnAS9wWs[/youtube]

 

[Bicster]

That's amazing stuff. Those videos are mesmerizing.

 

[DeaneG]

Very impressive. Could it be that plain old steel bodies will have just a brief usage in EVs, mostly for low-end and compliance cars?

 

[evnow]

Very impressive. Could it be that plain old steel bodies will have just a brief usage in EVs, mostly for low-end and compliance cars?

Depends on how quickly the battery cost & weight come down. When the battery is <$200/kWh and above 400w/kg, the weight doesn't matter that much.

 

[Bicster]

CFRP may end up having a greater impact on ICE vehicles as fuel economy requirements go up.

 

[scottf200]

2014 BMW i3 (170hp) - In Detail (1080p FULL HD) - Published on Sep 13, 2013

An in-depth look at the all new BMW i3 with its electric engine (170hp, 250Nm) and a carbon fiber frame. Already the first view indicates that this car is something totally revolutionary, a LED light system, tall and narrow proportions and a terrific interior (design lodge). This specific model wasn't exactly cheap but the built quality and material feel are comparable with a 5-series BMW. I am already looking forward to a detailed Drive & Sound as this will be a whole new experience as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTmcenMBnQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuTmcenMBnQ[/youtube]

 

[TomT]

You have to wonder why, with all the tech and weight savings that has gone in to this car, that it's range and performance is really no better than any other comparable EV like the Leaf...

 

[evnow]

You have to wonder why, with all the tech and weight savings that has gone in to this car, that it's range and performance is really no better than any other comparable EV like the Leaf...

With all that carbon fiber - all they could do is reduce battery capacity by 2 kWh compared to Leaf. That is worth just $1k - I'm sure carbon fiber costs a lot more.

I wrote about this sometime back - for BMW carbon fiber is something they will use for all their cars. i3 is just the beginning and gives them some green cred.

 

[surfingslovak]

I've uploaded an HD video, which shows the final assembly at the plant in Leipzig. I think the use of carbon fiber is an interesting and potentially longer topic. Based on some prior experience with it, I would argue that most consumers will be pleasantly surprised with its properties, durability and longevity. While we can only speculate about the production cost, the carbon frame the i3 uses weighs most likely less than 100 lbs. Wouldn't the material used in CFRP body panels be a bit cheaper to manufacture?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vg9R_PTKINU[/youtube]

 

[evnow]

Wouldn't the material used in CFRP body panels be a bit cheaper to manufacture?

I've no idea - whether pound for pound the materials used are cheaper or not. Or for that matter for the entire car - whatever the weight.

But given that so few cars use it today - and used only in really high end exotic cars (and some planes) - I'd say it is costlier.

 

[TonyWilliams]

I had the opportunity to crawl all over a fully functional i3 today for about 90 minutes, and took 66 pictures. I'll post those soon.

 

[GRA]

Wouldn't the material used in CFRP body panels be a bit cheaper to manufacture?

I've no idea - whether pound for pound the materials used are cheaper or not. Or for that matter for the entire car - whatever the weight.

But given that so few cars use it today - and used only in really high end exotic cars (and some planes) - I'd say it is costlier.

IIRR only the cabin shell is CFRP, with the body panels made out of some cheaper material.

 

[DeaneG]

I had the opportunity to crawl all over a fully functional i3 today for about 90 minutes, and took 66 pictures. I'll post those soon.

Would be great to hear your observations as well.

 

[evnow]

IIRR that only the cabin shell is CFRP, with the body panels made out of some cheaper material.

Right - it is plastic. But the overall effect is that the weight is lower than Aluminum (or Steel).

 

[pbennett]

The i3 looks like it'll be nice, but at $10k+ more than the Leaf and basically the same range... why?

Is it true that BMW doesn't really push the (optional) range extender much? That it shouldn't expected to be used like a Volt?

 

[KJD]

The i3 looks like it'll be nice, but at $10k+ more than the Leaf and basically the same range... why?

Because it has that blue and white emblem on the end of the hood, that's why.