BMW Has 100,000 Registered Test Drives for i3

BMWBMWGermany, 1918 > present87 models
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head of marketing says that it has 100,000 people signed up to test drive the i3BMW i3Germany, 2011 > present26 photos
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when it goes on sale later this year. It also already has "significant numbers of deposits" on the electric car, but he refused to say exactly how many. 

The production i3 will be revealed at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September and be on sale before the end of the year. Prices will be on par with the 3 SeriesBMW BMW 3 Series Gen.6 [F30/F31]Germany, 2012 > present115 versions
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. The basic car will be a pure EV using a carbon fiber reinforced plastic body, but BMW will offer an optional, rear-mounted two-cylinder engine to act as a series hybrid to charge the batteries for those with range anxiety. 

"It is an investment in a future agenda, and it's an agenda where we think zero-emission vehicles have a very, very key part to play.

"We are confident that with the i3 and i8 we will shift the needle because we will shape some of this technology," said Robertson. 

BMW and ToyotaToyotaJapan, 1937 > present155 models
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have also partnered to develop future battery technology, specifically a production-ready lithium-air battery. These batteries have been possible in the laboratory for decades and offer incredibly high energy densities on par with similar volumes of gasoline. However, previous versions have oxidized in a matter of hours, which renders them useless.

"In the next three to four years we'll see more development of the batteries than we have in the last 100," he said.

Source: Automotive News Europe