[BMWZ4]

Hydrogen seems like a likely solution. Lithium is like oil. Will eventually run out

[Big boi m5]

Originally Posted by matbl

RWD, not a problem. Anyone claiming they need AWD should probably ask themselves why.
Power, plenty of power no need for more.

Range. A bit on the short side. Could work if there's a proper high speed charging network that the car is capable of using.

Price. Will be way to expensive.

I agree. For $40k I'm very interested. But I can't see myself paying more for a car that can't do regular long distance

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by Penguino

I think we should email the BMW R&D department. They might have forgotten about all that too.

I'll get right on that...

[nublu2u]

Don't understand what went on at BMW, from being a front runner with the i3 to lagging behind everyone to release a premium car. How did that happen? I know they've teamed up with Jaguar to share costs on EV's, and maybe learn from the iPace

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by nublu2u

Don't understand what went on at BMW, from being a front runner with the i3 to lagging behind everyone to release a premium car. How did that happen? I know they've teamed up with Jaguar to share costs on EV's, and maybe learn from the iPace

It's Jaguar that is buying BMW eMotors, not the other way around.

BMW has zero to learn from JLR.

[bjcarls]

Ugh, what a let down, but then shouldn't be surprised since it isn't a from scratch build.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Hydrogen seems like a likely solution. Lithium is like oil. Will eventually run out

Hydrogen will never power mass market vehicles. It’s not energy dense enough (compared to batteries) and refilling infrastructure will never get off the ground.

Lithium is just one component of battery tech, which continues to evolve.

Back on topic.. I’m very interested in how they package the iX3. I don’t know of any other platform that has been successfully used as a pure ICE platform, as well as a pure BEV platform. Seems like they’re going to have so much wasted space using the G01. There’s only so much battery tech you can stuff under the bonnet where the traditional ICE and transmission live. The rest needs to go into the floorboards or the drive axles.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by SamS

Hydrogen will never power mass market vehicles. It's not energy dense enough (compared to batteries) and refilling infrastructure will never get off the ground.

Lithium is just one component of battery tech, which continues to evolve.

Back on topic.. I'm very interested in how they package the iX3. I don't know of any other platform that has been successfully used as a pure ICE platform, as well as a pure BEV platform. Seems like they're going to have so much wasted space using the G01. There's only so much battery tech you can stuff under the bonnet where the traditional ICE and transmission live. The rest needs to go into the floorboards or the drive axles.

So what (non man-made) product is to replace lithium? And as for the infrastructure, charging stations aren't exactly on every street corner. At least once a month, sometimes more, I drive 600kms one-way to my cottage. With an electric vehicle, I would have to stop at least once, possibly twice. And the big question of course is where to pull over to charge?

[palpatine_us]

All that instant torque. Rear Wheel Drive only.
The ESP/Traction nannies will have to be working overtime- or the tires will only last 5,000 miles.

[SamS]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

So what (non man-made) product is to replace lithium? And as for the infrastructure, charging stations aren't exactly on every street corner. At least once a month, sometimes more, I drive 600kms one-way to my cottage. With an electric vehicle, I would have to stop at least once, possibly twice. And the big question of course is where to pull over to charge?

You can make Lithium batteries in a variety of chemistries, that will continue to evolve and rely less on rare-earth materials.

If you think you 600km trip woud be difficult to refuel with regular old electricity, imagine the hydrogen infrastructure needed to compete with electric refueling!

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by SamS

You can make Lithium batteries in a variety of chemistries, that will continue to evolve and rely less on rare-earth materials.

If you think you 600km trip woud be difficult to refuel with regular old electricity, imagine the hydrogen infrastructure needed to compete with electric refueling!

Maybe, but either way, the infrastructure will be a real issue for a sizable % of the population, IMO

[ghaffari46]

Why they are camouflage this thing??

[matbl]

Originally Posted by ron_jeremy

The biggest joke is that the SUV EV have a RWD solution, meanwhile the sedan 3/4 series EV have a AWD, what were BMW thinking?! 😂

99.9% of car buyers simply don't need AWD. Want, maybe, need no.

[ron_jeremy]

Originally Posted by matbl

99.9% of car buyers simply don't need AWD. Want, maybe, need no.

I disagree, and with the instant power from an EV, that goes double. Besides, i'm from Norway, we need the AWD thingy

[Dog Face Pony Soldier]

Originally Posted by matbl

99.9% of car buyers simply don't need AWD. Want, maybe, need no.

99.9% of car buyers simply don't need a BMW. Want, maybe, need no.

[J-RO]

Seems to me that the more people that purchase cars that run on batteries the more they will have to charge them. The more they have to charge them the more they will have to plug into the grid. The more they plug into the grid the more taxing it will be to the grid. The more taxed the grid is the more possibility for the grid to fail which will make everyone start bitching. Not to mention the grid is powered by fossil fuel which is the reason why people buy cars that run on batteries.

[sor]

Originally Posted by JRobUSC

440km on the WLTP cycle is going to end up being around 200 miles on the EPA cycle. It’ll also be the least powerful/slowest vehicle in the segment, and be the only one NOT to offer AWD. A RWD-only SUV. BMW waited alllll this time to launch their full electrics, letting Audi, Benz, Jag, etc. beat them to market, and this is what they come out with. It’s like they want it to fail.

Many markets don't care so much about range. EVs are selling like hot cakes in Europe, for example, regardless of whether you can drive for five hours straight without stopping or only three. I suspect that's why non American EV makers aren't putting every last bit of effort into gaming EPA/WLTP range tests and squeaking out every last efficiency bit to get that marketing number.

I'm still not too impressed with the iX3, it could have been so much better. Looking forward to Volvo XC40 recharge, much better performance and AWD.

[sor]

Originally Posted by GodfatherNiko

Hydrogen infrastructure is already there, just retrofit existing gas stations. EV's are a temporary appearance.

Hydrogen is very hard to work with. It's hard to store and very hard to prevent leaks. It's also not certain we would be able to scale production. There are challenges with every energy solution though so it may be surmountable if someone can kick start it.

[sor]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

Hydrogen seems like a likely solution. Lithium is like oil. Will eventually run out

Lithium doesn't just get used up, though. They can rip open old car batteries and run them through the same process they do to purify lithium when mining and create fresh batteries. It's a lot easier to reclaim as well since the cars are eventually traded in or worked on, there can be a market for old batteries.

[stein_325i]

Model Y deliveries are being confirmed for the end of March, and owners are starting to receive emails, X3 is definitely gonna be DOA.

[BMWZ4]

Originally Posted by sor

Lithium doesn't just get used up, though. They can rip open old car batteries and run them through the same process they do to purify lithium when mining and create fresh batteries. It's a lot easier to reclaim as well since the cars are eventually traded in or worked on, there can be a market for old batteries.

No doubt, however from my limited research so far, not only is recycling/reusing lithium a tedious and costly process, there are limited facilities in place today. Sure, maybe that infrastructure will grow in time, like charging stations, but that's going to have happen quickly IMO to make electric a 100% viable & permanent "propellant"

[sor]

Originally Posted by BMWZ4

No doubt, however from my limited research so far, not only is recycling/reusing lithium a tedious and costly process, there are limited facilities in place today. Sure, maybe that infrastructure will grow in time, like charging stations, but that's going to have happen quickly IMO to make electric a 100% viable & permanent "propellant"

Yes, that's possible. My interpretation was that the used lithium could just be dumped into the existing pipeline that processes mined lithium, with some minor adjustments, but perhaps that's not sufficient.