Posted on 07/24/2013 1:27:04 AM PDT by grundle
On Monday, BMW announced that the U.S. base price for its all-electric i3 will be $41,350, not including any federal or state incentives. For General Motors' Chevy Volt, and possibly Tesla Motor's Model S, BMW's move spells major trouble. Here's why.
Bad news, GM
With a starting MSRP of $39,145 in 2012, the Volt was the best-selling EV, and it's not hard to see why. Really more of an electric hybrid than a straight EV, the Volt combines a 9.3-gallon fuel tank with a lithium-ion battery. This combination allows the Volt can go an estimated 38 miles on pure battery before switching to regular fuel, which extends the range to an estimated 380 miles. Because of this combination, the Volt cuts down on range anxiety, which is still a huge deterrent to getting consumers into EVs.
Now, compare the above to BMW's all-electric i3: According to BMW, the i3 has a pure-electric range of 80-100 miles, thanks to its lithium-ion battery, and has an optional range extender that lengthens that initial range by 80 miles. Plus, thanks to BMW's eDrive technology, a driver can extend the initial range up to 124 miles by putting the vehicle in one of the "EcoPro" modes.
Right away you can see the problem. Not only does BMW's i3 go farther on pure battery power, but with the purchase of the optional range extender, range anxiety goes way down. More pointedly, the base MSRP for the BMW is only $2,000 more than the Volt. I don't know about you, but if I had to decide between spending $39,000 for a Volt, or $2,000 more for a BMW, I'm going with the BMW, hands down.
Tesla, this is bad for you, too
Right now, Tesla is the crème-de-la-crème of EVs. But it's competing against all-electric EVs like Nissan Motors' Leaf, and Ford's Focus Electric. To put it simply, Tesla's Model S can drive circles around these cars. Yes, it's more expensive, but the technology, range, and precision of the Model S makes anything else seem almost silly in comparison. BMW, however, is a luxury brand with renowned German engineering, and its new i3, and the future i8 model, presents a new challenge for Tesla.
Consider this: The i3, designed from the ground up as an EV, has received praise from some of the industry's harshest EV critics. As BBC's "Top Gear" drivers put it:
At first sampling, then, this is a compelling electric car. It's not the first on the market, but BMW has put some original thinking into almost every part of its design and engineering. It drives sweetly, is distinctively designed, and has the reassuring range-extender option if you are anxious about running flat.
These are the same critics that gave Tesla's Roadster a less than glowing report -- in fact, Tesla sued the show for "libel and malicious falsehood" because of the review.
What to watch for
The i3 isn't set to hit showrooms until the second quarter of 2014, and right now it's too soon to predict exactly how this will affect GM and Tesla's sales. However, given BMW's reputation, the i3's reviews, and the just released base price, this is something investors would do well to monitor.
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The fluid is becoming less expensive. It was around $10/gal, which is $100 for a 10 gallon tank.
It’s more the concept of a bill for replacing fluid that would never occur to someone who hadn’t owned a diesel before. I never knew about it till I read about an ambulance that refused to go because the engine shut down with no fluid.
That and it sounds preposterous, like turn signal fluid.
Rather meaningless comparison then. Apples to oranges.
Cooled and warmed by what power source?
This was discussing the installation cost. It did not include limiting the availability of charging times.
Sorry, but one has to ask: Are you nuts?? Why would I, or anyone, want to drive a car for 21 straight hours at slightly more than jogging speed? And do it with no heating or cooling? Do we forget the sound system as well?
Perhaps you meant a cumulative 21 hours in scores of neighborhood trips but that can't be done. One can't start and stop at a constant 20 mph. I rather imagine starting/stopping in an EV wrecks your mileage just as in a petro powered car.
20 mph!?!?! lol, that is just too funny. I don't doubt the statistic but sorry, that car is not for me. I like to gas up and go. Fast and hard if I need/want to.
So....do you drive a Tesla as your only car? Just wondering.
Agree that the safety and backup systems need to be in place for winter places. Anyone thinking of traveling 200 (or even 100) miles in bad weather in MN using a batteries-only car is a dam fool. Stuck in snow? Dead batteries could mean dead you.
LMAO!
I am making the point by giving a range.
Like 200 miles of range if driven like a bat out of hell with AC on.
What else?
The only power source the car has onboard.
My naybors have a hybrid, and it just failed them this past week. The battery cooler failed while returning home on a 12 hour drive. Towed to dealer, spend extra night, finally got back. She is pissed with the EV crap (very likley democrats)!!
No it is not.
Over one million Americans in the free market have spent their own money on a Prius when they could have purchased a larger car.
The TDI’s meet the same standards as gas engines with a lot more torque and close to 60mpg on the highway.
When working in tunnels that required train in and out, the diesels simply routed exhaust through onboard soap water reservoirs. Reduced noxtious emissions nicely.
So, in the winter the battery is used to heat the battery?
That surely impacts the range of the car.
Gas engines produce much less fine particle and nitrous oxide emissions than allowed by law and what is produced by the TDI.
And both gas and diesel feed the OPEC-Al Qaeda terrorist complex.
You are making the assumption they wanted a larger car.
I’m waiting for the government to require car companies to install 4 gallon gasoline tanks in cars and trucks to get us ready for the Electrical Revolution. Otherwise, it just isn’t fair...
Electric cars are very useful. They are like a flashing neon sign, blinking, “Low Information Voter! Smug! Self-righteous! Sell this man a bridge!”
Obviously it does
But the parasitic loses are held to a low level.
It is the result of serious engineering.
As Tesla gets more real world feedback they will be able to improve the efficiency.
A modern gas powered car has a maximum of 30% thermal efficiency.
You apparently don't know how electric rates work.
Utilities typically are very regulated when it comes to how much they can charge for electricity. The price is based on their costs (all of them). For example, if a utility gets sued and has to pay out a $1M settlement. It gets to roll that cost into their rate structure and then charge their customers accordingly (adding in the agreed upon profit).
THAT's why they were always so eager to participate in the various rebate programs for swapping out to more efficient lighting, etc. They got to raise rates to recover their costs plus profit. It isn't like a normal company that would simply write these costs off.
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