BMW already has one plug-in electric car undergoing trial in the form of the
MINI E, but January's
Detroit show will see the wraps pulled off the second. The 1 Series ActiveE Concept is a fully electric, production-ready 1 Series Coupé that's set to come to a handful of UK guinea pigs next year as part of a massive feasibility study.
It uses a similar setup to the MINI E, with an electric motor placed on an axle and drawing power from lithium ion battery packs. However, true to form, the placement of the 170bhp motor has been switched from front to back, keeping this in tune with BMW's general rear-wheel propulsion philosophy for two-wheel drive cars. It's got 184lb.ft too, which makes it good for a 0-62mph sprint of 'under nine seconds' and a top speed limited to 90mph.
If we know BMW, and we think we do, we're convinced it won't come to market until it handles properly and demands few compromises compared to a
regular 1 Series Coupé, so this is an electric car we're actually getting remotely excited about. And because the maker is the official car provider of the 2012 Olympics in London, the UK is set to take part in the feasibility study next year.
It'll be pricey though, with the cost of leasing expected to be no lower than the £550 per month the MINI E demands at the moment. Your electricity bills might go up a little too. It can be charged fully in three hours (from a 'fast charging' point) for a 100-mile range, which BMW reckons is enough for most people.
Mark Nichol - 17 Dec 2009