Hasta La Gadget!

On the same day last month that BMW announced the BMW Active E electric vehicle (see story), the CEO of BMW of North America announced, “From a practicality point of view, (EVs) won’t work for most people.” That was April 18, the week of the New York International Auto Show. Detroit may not at full strength in the automaking business, but the Detroit News knows a good car story when it sees one, and jumped all over it. Now BMW NA CEO Jim O’Donnell has issued a clarification saying he was speaking personally and he’s also disappointed that U.S. policy rewards EVs with fat tax credits ($7,500) but hasn’t done much to jumpstart clean diesel technology in the U.S.

Jim O’Donnell, CEO and chairman of BMW North America, recently sat down with the Detroit News to discuss the ActiveE — an electric version of BMW’s 1 Series coupe, available for lease in the US this fall. Most CEOs would’ve probably used the opportunity to wax PR poetic about their company’s bold, forward-looking ethos, because that’s what CEOs do. O’Donnell, however, used the occasion to let us in on a dirty little secret: EVs don’t actually work. According to O’Donnell’s undoubtedly robust calculations, EVs won’t work for “at least 90-percent” of the human population, at current battery ranges. The situation is so dire, in fact, that the US government shouldn’t even bother wasting its $7,500 tax credits on frivolous things like innovation, national security and clean air.

“I believe in a free economy. I think we should abolish all tax credits. What they are doing is putting a bet on technology, which is not appropriate. As a taxpayer, I am not sure this is the right way to go.”

O’Donnell went on to say he’s “far more optimistic” about diesel’s chances of increasing BMW’s US market share — because, you know, it’s not like the oil industry gets any tax breaks, or anything. And it’s not like diverting some money away from oil subsidies and putting it toward EV technology would create the “level playing field” that O’Donnell and his company so desperately need. No siree, the US energy market is just as pure and fair as it’s always been — and it certainly doesn’t deserve to be corrupted by an EV tax credit pestilence. That said, O’Donnell would still really appreciate it if we buy the battery-powered i3 when it launches in 2013. Who knows? He may even throw in a free bridge, too.

CE-Oh no he didn’t!: BMW exec says electric vehicles ‘won’t work,’ but would love to sell you one anyway originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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“Is an electric car for me?” BMW Monday announced Evolve, a platform-agnostic smartphone app that tracks your current driving habits and distances, then tells you if you’re a candidate for an electric car with its typical 100-mile driving range. It’s out for the iPhone now and is due on Android by month’s end.

BMW has started I Venture, a $100 million venture capital fund based in New York City, to pursue what it calls “individual mobility solutions.” Why would a car company try to advance technologies that benefit smartphones and tablets as much or more than cars? Because automakers would like to help you out during (and profit from) the entire trip, including when you leave the car, and that requires a seamless handoff when you open the door. I Venture already has one investment, MyCityWay, which comprise location-aware apps that could help you find parking, get around using a subway or bus, and of course find you restaurants, bars, and shops.

People who love a given car tend to keep that car for awhile, longer than they should sometimes, but that isn’t always an option. Sometimes you have to give it back, and such is the case for the 40 “pioneers” who were among the first to get their mitts on and bums in the electric prototype Mini E in the UK. That fleet of test vehicles has been summoned back home, but thankfully not to suffer the same fate of the recalled GM EV1 — most of which were crushed in the ’90s. Instead, most of these Minis will find new homes among corporate vehicle fleets, though the testing program itself is largely over. From that program BMW learned that most drivers got along just fine, despite a complete lack of public charging stations, though some said cold temps put a crimp on the driving habits — a possible counterpoint to one EV Mini tester on this side of the pond found. All that data is being used to tailor the upcoming BMW i3, which we’ve already seen hooning around in some rather frigid weather but won’t be seen hooning on public streets until 2013 or so.

Mini E field trial ends, for the 40 testers a search for a new car begins originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Mar 2011 12:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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