BMW car to use BMW scooter engine

[ragtoplvr]

Short version

The BMW I 3 car will have a optional engine from the C 650 configured as a battery range extender

Link to full article

http://wardsauto.com/sales-amp-marke...&sfvc4enews=42

Rod

[lmo1131]

RANT: ON

Monday, 11 March, 2012, Wall Street Journal opinion piece > Green Cars Have a Dirty Little Secret

For proponents such as the actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, the main argument is that their electric carsÔÇöwhether it's a $100,000 Fisker Karma (Mr. DiCaprio's ride) or a $28,000 Nissan LeafÔÇödon't contribute to global warming. And, sure, electric cars don't emit carbon-dioxide on the road. But the energy used for their manufacture and continual battery charges certainly doesÔÇöfar more than most people realize.

... almost half the lifetime carbon-dioxide emissions from an electric car come from the energy used to produce the car, especially the battery. By contrast, the manufacture of a gas-powered car accounts for 17% of its lifetime carbon-dioxide emissions.

When an electric car rolls off the production line, it has already been responsible for 30,000 pounds of carbon-dioxide emission. The amount for making a conventional car: 14,000 pounds.

... batteries in electric cars fade with time, just as they do in a cellphone. Nissan estimates that after five years, the less effective batteries in a typical Leaf bring the range down to 55 miles.

If a typical electric car is driven 50,000 miles over its lifetime, the huge initial emissions from its manufacture means the car will actually have put more carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere than a similar-size gasoline-powered car driven the same number of miles.

... if the energy used to recharge the electric car comes mostly from coal-fired power plants, it will be responsible for the emission of almost 15 ounces of carbon-dioxide for every one of the 50,000 miles it is drivenÔÇöthree ounces more than a similar gas-powered car.

Even if the electric car is driven for 90,000 miles and the owner stays away from coal-powered electricity ... the electric car will be responsible for 8.7 tons of carbon dioxide less than the average conventional car.

On the European emissions market, credit for 8.7 tons of carbon-dioxide costs $48.

And a U.S. buyer of an electric vehicle gets a $7,500 tax credit for having saved the environment less than $50!?! And $5.5 billion dollars in federal monies have been awarded for electric vehicle manufacturers and battery makers.

And this BMW needs a kicker motor to alleviate the fears of prospective owners that they won't be able to get they where they want to go. Why buy it in the first place?!

RANT: OFF

[lkchris]

Deja vu all over again ... see Isetta.

[GeneT]

Deja vu all over again ... see Isetta.

Don't forget the BMW 700 in 64 & 65