25 Nov 08
The final bad news is that the whole job is hideously expensive. These cars are built on the line at Oxford without engine, gearbox or fuel tank then shipped to Munich where the 204hp electric motor is dropped into the front end, and the weight of four people - 260kgs - in lithium ion is tucked under a power bulge in the rear carpet. The back seats have gone completely and so has the luggage space - all but for a couple of soft bags.
Those batteries cost around $35,000 dollars which on top of the cost of the car is a lot. The power supply is expensive too. BMW will want to come round to your house if you are picked as a lucky driver. They will fit a $2,000 recharger in to your garage to make sure that the top-up takes no more than two hours. BMW will pay for that and take it back at the end of the loan. If you need a quick trickle charge at your mate's hose through a domestic plug, a refill will take the best part of 12 hours.
The Press got its first chance to play with the cars during the Los Angeles motor show where a nine mile road route was set up for urban trial. Only a very tenuous impression of handling and balance was available and acceleration could only be tested in the most informal setting. BMW assures us that the handling is every bit as good as the famous go-kart feel that they engineer in to the petrol car.
