BMW E1

BMW E1 is the name of two electric/hybrid city car concepts by German automobile manufacturer BMW, revealed at the 1991 then 1993 International Motor Show Germany.

First generation (Z11; 1991)
BMW E1 (Z11)
Overview
ManufacturerBMW
Production1991
DesignerMark Clarke (1991)[1]
Body and chassis
ClassCity car (A)
Body style3-door hatchback
Powertrain
Battery19 kWh sodium sulphate battery
Dimensions
Length3,460 mm (136 in)
Width1,648 mm (64.9 in)
Height~1,500 mm (59 in)
Chronology
SuccessorBMW E1 (Z15)

The first-generation BMW E1 prototype, the Z11, was revealed in 1991, and was all-electric. Only one example of this car was built.

Overview

The Z11-gen BMW E1 concept was revealed at the 1991 International Motor Show Germany in Frankfurt, Germany. It was a fully-functional 3-door, 4-seat electric city car. The E1 initially began development in 1990 with Technik, a division of BMW started in 1985, created to develop new technologies for cars. It was designed to test if a production electric car would work, partly due to the U.S. state of California's demand that 2% of new cars sold in the state be zero emission. This is the same reason for the creation of the General Motors EV1.[2]

Specifications

The Z11 E1 concept was powered by a 19 kWh sodium sulphate battery, which was in return powered by a direct-drive motor on the rear axle, giving the car a total output of 45 bhp and 111 lb ft. of torque. The E1 had a range of 155 mi (249 km) and two-hour rapid charging. The structure of the car was made from aluminum while the body was made from recycled plastic and was finished in a bright red paint. The car used custom-built alloy wheels, which were 14 in (360 mm) in the front and 16 in (410 mm) in the back.[2]

Replacement

The only Z11-gen E1 concept was destroyed in a fire that occurred while it was charging, and was replaced by a new concept for 1993.[3][4]

Second generation (Z15; 1993)
BMW E1 (Z15)
1993 BMW E1 at the BMW Museum (front)
Overview
ManufacturerBMW
Also calledBMW E2[5]
Production1993 (2 built; one EV and one hybrid)
DesignerMark Clarke (1993)[5]
Body and chassis
ClassCity car (A)
Body style3-door hatchback
Powertrain
Engine4-cylinder engine
Transmission5-speed manual (hybrid variant)
Battery19.2 kWh Sodium nickel chloride battery
Chronology
PredecessorBMW E1 (Z11)
SuccessorBMW i3 (spiritual)
1993 BMW E1 at the BMW Museum (rear)

The second-generation BMW E1 prototype, the Z15, was revealed in 1993 at International Motor Show Germany on September 9, 1993. Two examples of the car were built; an all-electric version and a hybrid version. The Z15, like the previous Z11, was also a 3-door city car that seats four passengers.

Specifications

The electric version is powered by a 19.2 kWh sodium nickel chloride battery and has a top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h). It is finished in a green metallic paint and features a green interior.[6]

The hybrid version also uses the 4-cylinder internal combustion engine used in the BMW K1100 motorcycle and a 5-speed manual transmission, and has an output of 82 hp. This variant is painted red.[7][6]

Both examples of the Z15-gen E1 feature a similar lightweight body to that of the Z11, which is made of aluminum and plastic.[6]

Legacy

Although the E1 was never produced, BMW introduced the ICE-powered 1993 3 Series Compact, featuring similar styling to the Z11, two years after the Z11 E1 concept's revealing. Furthermore, BMW did eventually introduce an electric city car, the i3, in 2013, 20 years after the Z15 concept. The Z15 concept remains at the BMW Museum in Munich.[8]

References
  1. Dredge, Richard. "BMW E1". Below the Radar. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. Culmer, Kris (15 March 2018). "Throwback Thursday 1992: BMW E1 first drive". Autocar. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  3. "Der E1 – zum Zweiten", BMW Group Archive, 1 September 1993, retrieved 4 October 2021
  4. DeMattia, Nico (24 April 2016). "The BMW E1 Electric Car was quirky and ahead of its time". BMW Blog. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  5. Cogan, Ron (28 November 2022). "Early BMW Electric Vehicle Development: The BMW E2". Green Car Journal. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  6. Navarro, Xavier (26 June 2009). "Back in time: a gallery of BMW's electric car prototypes through the years". AutoBlog. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  7. "1993 BMW E1". Conceptcarz.com. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  8. "BMW E1: The electric car that was not allowed to drive". Teller Report. 21 April 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
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