The first BMW i3 all-electric vehicle in the U.S. was delivered today to Boston resident and Tufts University professor Charles Rabie at the BMW of Boston dealership. Hundreds of BMW i3s are now at U.S. facilities awaiting transport to BMW dealers across the country, ready to usher in the new era of BMW electromobility.
Professor Rabie is an electric vehicle advocate who has been driving the BMW ActiveE since 2012.
“Today marks a big day at BMW of North America. What started out as a dream for an innovative sustainable vehicle under the BMW i brand can now be found on streets across the U.S.,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America.
The BMW i3 is the first of the BMW i vehicles—built primarily of carbon fiber—to enter the U.S. market. The electric motor in the i3 puts out 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and its lithium-ion batteries are good for 80 to 100 miles of emission-free driving. The BMW i3 has a base price of $41,350 and the range-extender model will have a starting price of $45,200.—Scott Blazey
