BMW's Electric "City" Vehicles Get On The Fast Track

[JoshCalkins]

New Isetta Concept

Just over a month ago, BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer said that the company would be releasing electric vehicles by the year 2015. Well, it seems that the German automaker has drastically accelerated their plans over the past month, partly to comply with new regulations that will go into effect in the state of California. The company now estimates a 2012 release year for their compact electric vehicles in the United States, known internally as the "City" car. Also, they've given us a few details on what to expect. The "City" will be a three-door hatchback, and it will be really, really compact. Smaller than the 1-Series, smaller than the Mini. In terms of pure dimensions, it is hinted that the "City" will be more in Honda Fit territory, if not smaller. That decreased size, and hence, decreased weight, allows the car to get a 100 mile range on a single charge of the lithium ion battery pack.

As before, BMW is still debating exactly how they should brand this new car; will it be a BMW, a Mini, or some new brand plate? The photo above is a rendering of a new BMW Isetta concept that the company released a little while back. The Isetta is reportedly an influence on the "City," but it'll probably be a year or so before BMW releases any pictures of the finished product, if not longer.