BMW Gets Electrified, But Am I? For over a year, I've been looking for a way to get into an electric vehicle, but my options have been decidedly limited. I'm either lacking the funds (Tesla Roadster) or the alternatives have lacked character (Mitsubishi i, Focus Electric). But now there's this: The 2011 BMW ActiveE. It's the next step for BMW in electrification – a bridge between the Mini E and the forthcoming i3 – that takes a standard 1 Series Coupe and adds a brace of batteries and electric motor to create a rear-wheel-drive sports coupe with a 100-mile range. Even ... Read More

Vital Stats

Engine:: 125 kW electric motor
Power:: 168 HP / 184 LB-FT
Transmission:: Single-Speed
MSRP:: $2,250 down/$499 month

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BMW gets ready to lease electric vehicles with ING purchase 1311594900

Financial institution ING has agreed to sell its automotive leasing service, ING Car Lease, to BMW for an estimated €700 million ($994 million U.S. at the current exchange rate) as part of the Dutch firm's efforts to focus its portfolio on core activities and to repay its remaining €3 billion ($4.26 billion U.S.) debt. The deal, expected to ...
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Video: BMW kicks off production of the Active E 1311019320

BMW's latest video details the start of production of the battery-powered Active E – the zero-emissions vehicle that, just a few short years ago, seemed no more than a dream to Mirco Schwarze, team leader at BMW's facility in Leipzig, Germany. Going from dream to reality in three years, the Active E is BMW's answer to the question, "what's ...
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BMW 1 Series Active E, Mini E to be on duty at the 2012 Olympics 1310764200

As an automotive partner of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, BMW will supply a staggering 4,000 vehicles for use during the games. Though most of the fleet will consist of sedan versions of BMW's EfficientDynamics-badged 320d and 520d, 200 vehicles will be the pure-electric type. Rumor had it that BMW would use the 2012 Olympics as an opportunity to ...
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BMW selects AeroVironment for ActiveE home charging systems 1305806640

On Wednesday, AeroVironment announced that BMW has selected it as the "preferred provider" of electric vehicle charging equipment, accessories and installation services for the German automaker's ActiveE. This agreement is nearly identical to deal between Nissan and AeroVironment. The ActiveE prototpye electric is the second phase – the first ...
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BMW North America CEO issues apology for anti-electric vehicle remarks 1304081820

Last week, BMW North America chairman and chief executive officer, Jim O'Donnell, told the Detroit News that – among other anti-electric vehicle comments: Ouch. That sounds like it will require an apology letter. And so it did. O'Donnell said that his words were not carefully chosen and that, "I want to stress I am 100% behind our company's plans ...
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BMW North America CEO: Electric vehicles "won't work for most people" 1303746600

Starting this fall, German automaker BMW will lease approximately 700 of its 1 Series-based ActiveE electric coupes for $499 a month. The lease is for 24 months, with $2,250 due at signing, and will be available in six markets in the U.S.: the New York metropolitan area, Boston, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Los Angeles. Reservations for the ...
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Think you're ready for an EV? The BMW EVolve app has the answer [w/video] 1303170960

I want an EV. Call me an early adopting sucker, but I've been actively considering an electric vehicle after spending a week with the Tesla Roadster Sport. But the Tesla is way beyond my meager means and the Nissan Leaf is just too pedestrian for my gearhead tastes. So what's left? Not much. The Focus Electric makes a strong case for itself, but it's ...
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BMW ActiveE leasing priced at $499 a month, $2,250 down payment 1303151820

BMW has released official pricing for its latest foray into the world of electric vehicles, and compared to the rest of your EV options, the Active E is a screaming deal. Lease pricing for the 1 Series-based Active E is set at $499 a month for 24 months, with a downpayment of $2,250 due at signing. BMW isn't citing exact output figures yet (we're ...
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BMW ActiveE leasing priced at $499 a month, $2,250 down payment 1303147680

BMW has released official pricing for its latest foray into the world of electric vehicles, and compared to the rest of your EV options, the Active E is a screaming deal. Lease pricing for the 1 Series-based Active E is set at $499 a month for 24 months, with a downpayment of $2,250 due at signing. BMW isn't citing exact output figures yet (we're ...
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Geneva 2011: BMW ActiveE looking to become the Ultimate Electric Driving Machine 1299196560

BMW showed us the ActiveE Concept back at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Now the automaker is using the Geneva Motor Show floor to roll out the latest version of the electrified 1-Series. The BMW ActiveE, following in the footsteps of the Mini E before it, will begin rolling out to select markets in the fall of 2011. Mini utilized a fleet of 600 electric ...