The BMW i3 in the early 1990s had a range of more than 124 miles.
We thought it would be a great opportunity to go back to its ancestor, the i3 with its update and the spawning of an i3S.
BMW first ventured into EV development in 1972, when it introduced the 1602 Electro-Antrieb (Electric-Drive), at the Olympic Games. A small electric vehicle was introduced by the subsidiary BMW Technik GmbH almost two decades later. It is the i3 without the avant-garde interior and futuristic exterior.
The BMW E1 was smaller than today’s i3 but larger inside. It could accommodate four people plus some luggage. Engineers developed a light body using extrusion-pressed aluminum profiles. The outer skin was a mixture of plastic and aluminum to offset the battery’s weight.
A fully functional concept (see driving video below) The 1991 BMW E1 had a unspecified battery pack with enough juice to provide a range of upto 124 miles (200 km). It’s not bad for an electric vehicle that was built nearly a quarter century ago. The charging port required to “refill” batteries was conveniently integrated behind one the kidney grilles.
The E1 was not painfully slow, as it had enough power to reach speeds of 75 mph (120 km/h), which is more than sufficient for city use by modern standards. The current top speed is electronically limited at 93 mph (150 km/h).
BMW didn’t create the E1 with the intention of producing it. It was designed to show off the company’s progress in electric vehicles. It had an exterior design that was significantly different from the road-going models. The interior cabin was simple but spacious enough for a small commuter who needs to get around the city.