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August 31, 2011
The North American branch of the luxury car company plans to offer 700 electric vehicles for leasing in the U.S. The ActiveE, which is based off of BMW’s 1-series compact coupe, will be available for leasing to the public in five regions: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Boston, and California. After a $2,250 down payment, consumers can expect to shell out $499 a month as per the leasing contract.
The company has expanded the model’s 24-month trial to new markets. The ActiveE is BMW’s second electric car. It is a prelude to its first all-electric car, the i3, which will be released into the auto market in the year 2013 and designed specifically for driving in cities and other densely populated areas.
With bold exterior lines and a luxurious cabin that is signature of BMW, the ActiveE is sure to be a prime competitor in the green car market. It features four seats and uses the same lithium ion batteries that will be used in the future edition of the i3. BMW spokespeople have declared that the battery pack is expected to produce a total range of 100 miles.
In addition, Rich Steinberg, who is the manager of EV operations for BMW in North America, stated that the company will be offering a new application for Apple and Android devices. Called “BMW Evolve,” this application will help drivers decide whether or not they would like to lease the ActiveE. This is the first type of application of its kind by a major auto corporation.
Steinberg also explained that the ActiveE’s batteries will cool or heat while still being plugged into a wall outlet for charging. This strategy will allow for the model’s 100 mile range and optimize its driving performance.
The ActiveE has a 170 horsepower electric engine. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under 9 seconds. Before the ActiveE, BMW’s first mass EV was the Mini. A total of 450 Minis was introduced to New Jersey, New York, and Los Angeles, three of the most densely populated urban cities in the country.
After the introduction of the ActiveE this fall and promoting the leasing method, BMW’s next scheduled step will be to offer its first four-cylinder engine in the U.S. market after more than a decade. The Z4 sDrive28i will be available in late fall.
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