What is Sustainability?

"A new sensation," "Fun and exciting beyond its price," "A car that transcends its category." These are the impressions of current i3 users, and nearly all of them share this sentiment. The reason is that the BMW i3 was born from a completely different concept and philosophy than conventional car manufacturing, representing a new mobility solution that transcends existing automotive concepts. This is precisely why BMW created the "BMW i" brand and offers this vehicle, according to Mr. Ikuo Ikuno of BMW Brand Management Product Marketing at BMW Japan.

The key keyword embodying the mission of BMW i is "sustainability." BMW i is committed to realizing sustainability by incorporating all available technologies into its vehicle development.

What exactly is sustainability? The term was first defined in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development, United Nations, as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

In simple terms, it means "preserving an environment for future generations to live independently, while simultaneously meeting the needs of the present generation for a comfortable life." This applies to all individuals, corporations, and entities that impact society. "For BMW, this is naturally practiced through car manufacturing, and the BMW i is its symbol," Mr. Ikuno stated.

Three Initiatives for Sustainability

As an automotive manufacturer, BMW's efforts in this regard are broadly divided into three areas: development, production, and utilization.

A distinctive aspect of sustainability in development is that BMW i vehicles are designed from the ground up as electric cars. However, current technology presents a challenge: EV batteries are heavy, negatively impacting driving range and diminishing their advantages. To address this, BMW i utilizes carbon fiber-reinforced plastic for the passenger cell. According to Mr. Ikuno, "Carbon fiber bodies are said to be 50% lighter than steel and 30% lighter than aluminum, significantly contributing to vehicle weight reduction."

Furthermore, the use of environmentally friendly materials in manufacturing is noteworthy. For example, kenaf, which grows faster than ordinary wood and is said to absorb more CO2, is used for the dashboard and door panels. Seat materials incorporate recycled PET bottles and wool, and eucalyptus wood, which requires less surface treatment, is used for interior trim. By actively adopting such low-environmental-impact materials, BMW aims to contribute to the environment.

Moreover, 95% of the components used in the BMW i3 are recyclable. "Even after its role as a car ends, the i3 will never remain as waste on Earth forever," Mr. Ikuno stated.

What about production? The Leipzig plant in Germany, where BMW i vehicles are manufactured, is equipped with wind turbines, and all electricity used in the factory is generated by wind power. Additionally, by establishing unique BMW i production processes, energy consumption for vehicle production has been reduced by 50%, and water usage has been cut by 70%.

Regarding the third aspect, utilization, Mr. Ikuno explained, "This is why BMW i was developed with electric power as its premise." One of the factors hindering sustainability in urban environments is air pollution from automobiles. BMW believes that by replacing these with electric vehicles, which produce no exhaust emissions, air pollution can be curbed. Furthermore, the absence of exhaust gases reduces CO2, a heat-trapping gas, contributing to the mitigation of the urban heat island effect. It also offers the significant advantage of not generating the heat produced by conventional engines. Additionally, since electric vehicles are silent, they also help reduce noise pollution.

Quiet Operation, Excellent Acceleration, and One-Pedal Driving

Born from such a background, the BMW i3 possesses three main characteristics. Firstly, it is quiet due to the absence of engine noise. Mr. Ikuno commented, "Less noise is beneficial for both the environment and the driver. Furthermore, there is no vibration from engine operation."

Secondly, the use of an electric motor provides outstanding acceleration. Electric motors deliver maximum torque from a standstill, resulting in acceleration that is incomparable to that of engine-powered vehicles.

The third feature is one-pedal driving. The BMW i3 is intentionally designed so that strong regenerative braking is applied when the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator pedal. This allows for acceleration and deceleration simply by adjusting the pressure on the accelerator pedal. Consequently, the need to constantly switch between the accelerator and brake pedals is eliminated, significantly reducing driving fatigue. "Drivers switching from conventional cars may be initially hesitant, but once they get used to it, they find it extremely convenient and often comment that they can't go back to other cars," Mr. Ikuno shared.

Furthermore, the range extender is a solution made possible by BMW's unique capabilities. It features a 647cc gasoline engine mounted at the rear. This engine is used solely to generate electricity, which is then supplied to the electric motor for driving via the battery.

"This range extender offers more than just the benefit of extending driving range," said Mr. Ikuno. "By enabling the use of gasoline, which is part of the existing mainstream infrastructure, it provides an additional option to refuel and drive, beyond just charging and driving. For instance, depending on the destination, there might be no charging stations, or conversely, no gas stations. In such situations, having either one available allows for flexibility, reducing driver concerns about long-distance travel." He added, "This is an innovative and smart solution that only BMW, with its expertise in small engines for two-wheelers, could achieve."

Significant Increase in Driving Range

Two years have passed since the BMW i3 was introduced to the market, and challenges such as driving range, charging infrastructure, and vehicle price have been identified as crucial for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles. The new i3 aims to address all of these.

Regarding driving range, the new i3 achieves 390 km on a single charge. With the range extender model, an additional 120 km of range can be added, making it possible to travel from Tokyo to Osaka (approximately 509 km).

This has been made possible by newly developed battery cells. By increasing energy density, a new high-capacity 33 kWh lithium-ion battery has been installed without altering the dimensions. This has extended the driving range by 70% from the previous model's 229 km, without compromising interior space. The motor output is 125 kW (170 hp) with a maximum torque of 250 Nm, achieving 0-100 km/h acceleration in 7.3 seconds.

Secondly, complimentary charging services are provided. BMW's public charging service, "ChargeNow," has been introduced in Japan, and new BMW i3 owners will receive one year of free access. ChargeNow utilizes the charging network of Nippon Charge Service, a partner company, with approximately 14,000 charging stations already available nationwide.

Mr. Ikuno commented, "This will allow drivers to embark on long-distance journeys with peace of mind, and users who live in apartments or condominiums without home charging facilities can also enjoy owning an electric vehicle with confidence."

Furthermore, a dedicated smartphone app, "ChargeNow," is available for users, enabling them to check the location, availability, and number of available charging stations.

Additionally, the new i3 now comes standard with "BMW Service Inclusive Plus," which includes a maintenance package covering statutory inspections and replacement of consumables for three years, along with tire and key protection.

The new i3 offers a total of six body colors, including the new Protonic Blue, and two new interior design packages, ATELIER and LODGE, in addition to the existing SUITE, providing three distinct interior design lines. Including the option of a range extender, there are a total of six models in the lineup.

The ATELIER model, the entry-level variant without the range extender, has undergone some equipment changes and is priced at 4.99 million yen, the same as the previous BMW i3. With the clean energy vehicle subsidy of 365,000 yen, the effective price starts from 4,625,000 yen, making it more affordable than the previous i3.