BMW Reveals Sketch of 2013 Megacity EV

BMW recently gave the world a sneak peek of their electric city runabout, the Megacity Vehicle.

The Megacity Vehicle is currently being developed as a zero-emission electric vehicle for sale sometime in 2013.

The MCV will be made out of a futuristic carbon-fiber/plastic composite material. The weight of the material should completely offset the usual weight that accompanies an electric vehicle’s battery pack, which can be 550 to 750 pounds of additional weight.

BMW will also maintain its driver-centric focus with this electric car. The MCV will feature a rear-wheel-drive format, a dynamic wheel load transfer system and a slip control system to make sure that every available unit of power is transferred to the ground to let this urban vehicle dart easily through heavy traffic. The powertrain should be the equivalent to 170 horsepower, according to BMW.

The MCV will use an all-new lithium-ion battery, which is currently being tested on the BMW ActiveE concept car, and will have an expected range of 100 miles.

This isn’t BMW’s first foray into electric cars. The automaker currently has 600 electrified Minis (called the Mini E) on the market to gauge customer acceptance and habits. BMW has learned from the program that Mini-E drivers don’t use their cars much differently than Mini Cooper or BMW 1 Series owners in the sense that most trips are shorter than 30 miles round trip.

When the MCV goes on sale it won’t be branded as a BMW. Instead it would be sold under a sub-brand and probably marketed the way Mini is in this country now.

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Comments

Dan

Jul 19, 2010 3:27:30 PM

I'm willing to put money on BMW not building a car in 2013 that looks even remotely like this sketch.

Zack

Jul 19, 2010 5:00:05 PM

Talk and sketches are cheap. All BMW does is promise what it's going to do. The converted 1 series is a joke. Meanwhile Nissan, GM, Toyota, Ford, Hyundai and Tesla are actually getting it done with practical hybrids and EVs.

Rich

Jul 20, 2010 11:32:53 AM

I'd like to see BMW market a car like this. And the styling looks good too. It should be marketed as a BMW and have true driving credentials--not as a new odd sub-brand. The world does not need another car brand.

Mike

Jul 20, 2010 3:44:06 PM

The sketch is pretty poor looking. Still not on board with an electric BMW as I do enjoy my gas guzzling '06 M3.