BMW announced ActivE, their all-electric coupe

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Transportation

BMW has announced that it plans to lease 700 demo units of its first completely electric vehicle, the BMW ActivE. They'll start the trial this fall in New York City, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles, and parts of Connecticut, the company said in a statement. Consumers will have to pay $499 a month for a 24-month lease, plus a down payment of $2,250. Reservations start at the end of this summer.

"Based on the 1 Series Coupe, the BMW ActiveE will accelerate from 0-60 mph in under nine seconds, making it the first electric vehicle to combine the dynamic characteristics typical of a BMW with the zero-emissions benefits of driving an electric vehicle," BMW said in a press release.

When fully powered, the car's lithium-ion batteries last around 100 miles. The batteries also feature heating and cooling and can pre-condition your car to maximize power during various weather conditions.

Furthermore the dashboard features a set of instruments that track the amount of energy being consumed. Instead of a tachometer, for instance, you'll find indicators for battery consumption and charge time. And because the car is apparently very quiet, BMW has also installed a needle to let you know when a car at standstill is ready to drive again.

Field tests from the ActiveE and the hybrid Mini EV, introduced in 2009, will go towards the research and development of BMW's first commercial electric vehicles, the i3 and i5, which are slated to launch in 2013.

At the same time, BMW has launched the BMW Evolved app in the Apple App Store and Android Market to help drivers determine whether or not they'd be able to adapt to an electric-powered vehicle.

But given that this is a BMW-branded app, the answer is probably always a resounding 'yes.' The app takes stock of daily driving patterns and presents users with an "in depth overview as to how switching to an EV will positively impact your life and the community around you," the iOS app description reads.

This article, written by Sara Yin, originally appeared on PCMag.com and is republished on Gear Live with the permission of Ziff Davis, Inc.