Electric

Recharge your BMW i3/i8 Using the Gift of Sol

If the weather is nice, you recharge for free!
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Photo: BMWdesignWorksUSA

The new BMW i8 (and its more affordable sister, the i3) is a marvel of engineering. Using a combination of electric and gasoline engines, it develops a total of 362HP, can zip from 0 to 100 in 3.8 seconds and run all the way to a 250 km/h top speed. Even more astonishing is the fuel consumption, which BMW claims can be as low as 2.5L/100 km, under ideal conditions.

The BMW i brand models can be recharged using your home’s wall socket. But while Quebec’s electricity comes from a clean and renewable source, the rest of the world is not so lucky. This is why BMW DesignWorksUSA recently unveiled a new carport that can recharge your car!

Made out of renewable bamboo and carbon fiber, the carport is modern and looks solid. There are solar panels on the rooftop, which can recharge your car for free. They are built in Europe, and feature a 30 year warranty. If the temperature is uncooperative, the car charger connects itself to the power grid, to ensure your car is always ready to go.

The recharge time is not mentioned, but there is a big chance that it will be far quicker in California than in the UK…

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