Electric Mini and BMW X3 Are a Go, Says CEO

by Steph Willems

September 30th, 2016 3:00 PM

electric mini and bmw x3 are a go says ceo

An electric Mini? There’s a weak Austin Powers joke in there somewhere, maybe, but that movie (alarmingly) came out 19 years ago.

After teasing the possibility earlier this year, BMW CEO Harald Krüger confirmed an all-electric Mini will arrive in 2019, Bloomberg reports. Krüger claims a Mini EV, as well as an electric version of the compact X3 crossover, is needed to keep up with the company’s German rivals.

Mercedes-Benz unveiled its electric Generation EQ concept vehicle at the Paris Auto Show this week, while Volkswagen pulled the wraps off its I.D. concept EV. Both rival automakers plan an extensive lineup of EVs riding atop a dedicated modular platform, with the first new models going on sale by 2020.

BMW’s future product plans call for seven EVs grouped under its “i” sub-brand, but these models would stand alone, showing the company’s ability to make “normal” EVs. Unlike the EQ and I.D., the electric Mini and X3 would be conventional vehicles converted to battery power. It remains to be seen how much range BMW can draw from batteries shoehorned into the two models.

If the market for upmarket EVs ends up being soft, BMW can blame its competitors for fueling this EV race. For now, Bimmer simply wants to keep up.

The electric X3 will follow the Mini EV in 2020, Krüger said. Both models will offer “competitive” pricing and range, he added.

[Images: BMW Group]

#BMW #BmwX3 #ElectricVehicles #EVs #FutureVehicles #MINI #ParisAutoShow #ProductPlanning

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12 comments

White Shadow on Sep 30, 2016

What is the market for EVs these days? Seriously, is anyone really buying these things? Other than all the Tesla hype, does anyone really care?

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- Bubbajet on Sep 30, 2016
  
  Were it not for the time of life I'm in (one kid driving, one about to start) I'd likely have already bought an EV. Once they both have safe, dependable cars, I'll definitely be buying an EV. I use an app to track fill-ups on my current car, the farthest from home I've filled up is about 30 miles away. There have been three 200+ mile trips in the last three years that an EV would have made challenging - but those were kid-related. When they're up and out, I have zero reason to NOT buy an EV. Here's hoping that there are more "normal looking" EVs in the future.
  
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- Redliner on Sep 30, 2016
  
  It's highly dependent on where and how you live (apartment? McMansion?), and what you do for work. EVs work best for people who live in the suburbs of the 11 CARB states that have a garage, have a predictable commute, and don't need to carry heavy loads for work. That cuts out a lot of people. However, once people go electric, most don't want to go back.
  
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- Mcs on Sep 30, 2016
  
  @redliner: EVs work best for people who live in the suburbs of the 11 CARB states that have a garage, have a predictable commute, and don’t need to carry heavy loads for work. You don't really need a garage. An outdoor outlet works fine. Having off-street parking helps too I suppose. I use outdoor 120v 20 amp and 240v 50 amp RV outlets at one of my work locations all the time. With 200+ mile range EVs, you could probably survive with public charging. I have a frequent 100-mile round trip commute and could charge solely at my workplace with a 200+ mile EV. Once, I stayed at a condo in Vermont that didn't have charging, but I had no problem because of a nearby quick charger. And that's with a 100-mile range EV. Commute doesn't have to be too predictable either. I've had to make some emergency trips and had no problem because of readily available quick charging. If I had a job where I had to drive to multiple random locations (like some friends of mine) it would be tough, but it's doable thanks to plenty of quick chargers in the area. I took a look at the plugshare map and it looks like if you're near a major city, even outside of the CARB states, quick charging availability isn't bad. The Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming and parts of a few other states are the worst. The charging situation is improving. I used to have to deal with quick charging gaps between Boston and Vermont, and Boston to Portland ME. CHAdeMO chargers in Bedford NH and York ME that have gone on-line in the last couple of months have filled in the gaps. Now, if the manufacturers hurry up and get serious about 800v quick charging, charging times would drop in half and we'd be closer to what it takes to fuel an ICE car.
  
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- Scoutdude on Sep 30, 2016
  
  @redliner The CARB emissions standards and the ZEV mandate are separate things. 10 states have adopted CARB emissions standards while only 9 have jumped on the ZEV mandate bandwagon. While being in a state with a ZEV mandate means it is more likely to have a better selection of EVs that has nothing to do with what works best for people. Washington is that state that adopted CARB emissions regulations and passed on the ZEV mandate. However there are EVs all over the roads around here and they seem to work just fine for those people. In fact they seem to work so well in our non ZEV mandate state that we have the second highest per capita rate of EV adoption.
  
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- Syke on Oct 01, 2016
  
  Yeah, a lot of people care. I was seriously looking at the possibility of something plug in for this car, went conservative (and sated my long held desire for a Fiat Abarth) this time around since I'm in the early days of (semi) retirement. Going to look again in two years, by which point the Abarth may be kept as strictly a 'toy car', and I go plug in for my main transportation. I'm fairly certain it'd work now, two years from now when I drop the 'semi' status, I know it'll work. And yes, I'm VERY enthusiastic on the idea of electric cars.
  
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- Syke on Oct 01, 2016
  
  @Syke Oh yeah, I'd also prefer to buy my electric from one of the terminally uncool manufacturers. Like GM. I'm going to be watching the Bolt very closely.
  
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- Dividebytube on Oct 03, 2016
  
  The Bolt is on my short list as a my next car. I will, of course, have my wife's gas vehicle for longer distance spins. But a 200mile range will get me to my parents and back, or to shoot over to the next city and back. My work commute, which I only make 3-4 times a week is only six or seven miles away. An electric car would be perfect for 99% of my driving needs.
  
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- HotPotato on Oct 04, 2016
  
  @mcs As range increases and public chargers proliferate, people won't need a garage and an outlet anymore. We have a garage parking space and a regular 120 volt outlet for our Fiat 500e. A typical workday's driving with commute and errands uses maybe half its range. We drive it home, plug it in, and it's fully charged by morning. On the occasions we do more distance, there's inevitably a 240 volt charger wherever we're having lunch or buying clothes or whatever. Range anxiety has been an issue exactly once: when the idiot dealer forgot to charge the car before handing us the keys for the first time. We're looking at replacing our other car with a Bolt---even though we don't have another garage space or outdoor outlet at home---because there's free charging at my work and my wife's work, and low-cost public charging at city parking lots all around our downtown neighborhood. We want the DC fast charging option for the novelty of being able to take the car on long road trips if desired, but chances are the option won't be used much. It's not true everywhere, but in many areas people drive less than they think, have access to more chargers than they think, and don't need their car to recharge as fast as they think.
  
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FreedMike on Sep 30, 2016

"Electric Mini". Is this a car blog or a sex toy site?

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- RHD on Oct 03, 2016
  
  For the serious enthusiast, there's a versatile and powerful electric "Clubman" that uses a 240V charger...
  
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- ========Read all comments======== on Oct 03, 2016
  
  @RHD Manufactured in Cowley, England, and engineered in Germany, the modern and versatile Clubman can be used comfortably by up to four adults at the same time.
  
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