30 ~ Friday, September 27, 1991 - North Shore News

AUTOMOTIVES

BMW designs a practical electric car

BMW'S FIRST purpose-
built electric car, the El, is
“nimble,’’ *‘practical’’ and
“environmentally friendly”’
according to the president
of BMW Canada Inc.

“The El was designed, right
from the start, to be a practical
electric car,’’ said Mr. Victor
Doolan. ‘*With the exception of
the sodium/sutphur battery and,
of course, the electric motor, the
entire car was developed from ‘a
clean piece of paper’.”"

“BMW's electric car goes a
long way toward satisfying the
various — and to some degree,
conflicting — demands placed on
a modern automobile. It acceler-
ates quickly to 50 km/h, can carry
up to four passengers and the
electric motor does not generate
any pollutants whatsoever. As
well, BMW’s next generation of
electric cars will use recycled, not
just recyclable, plastic for its outer
skin."”

The Et, which had its debut at
the Frankfurt Motor Show cur-
rently under way, is based on the
know-how and experience of
BMW scientists and engineers who
have been examining alternative
drive concepts for many years.

According to Mr. Doolan,
BMW set specific design criteria
for its new electric car which stip-
ulated:
© The electric drive system had to
provide adequate performance,
acceptable range and un-
complicated handling;
© The vehicle had to offer ade-
quate space for passengers and
luggage;
® The highest level of active and
passive safety had to be maintain-
ed; and
e BMW’s _ esthetic design and
styling principles had to be taken
into account.

As a result of these considera-

tions, fundamental design deci-
sions were taken to:
e fit the sodium-sulphur high-
energy battery in the safest loca-
tion, beneath the rear seats (this
position is also ideally suited to
the battery's size and weight); and
® place the electric motor on the
rear axle with direct drive to the
rear wheels (this gives the E1 ideal
traction on the drive wheels and a
turning circle of less than nine
metres).

The El’s 45 bhp electric motor,
which accelerates from 0 to 50
km/h in six seconds, has a top
speed of 120 km/h and a range of
more than 250 km. The battery
can be recharged by connecting
the car to a normal 220 V power
supply for six to eight hours.

BMW designed the El with an
interior offering ample head- and
legroom for front seat passengers,
acceptable accommodation for
those in the rear seats, and a lug-
gage compartment unmatched by
any car of this size, according tc
Mr. Doolan. With the rear seat
tipped forward, there is nearly a
full cubic metre of carrying space.

Whale walk
scheduled

GREENPEACE is holding a Watk
For Whales, Saturday Oct. 12 in
Stanley Park.

The event is being held to
educate and raise awareness
among people of all ages about
the environmental issue. Registra-
tion for the three-kilometre walk
begins at 8:30 a.m. The event in-
cludes a program of educational
activities and entertainment.

For more information contact
Greenpeace at 253-7701.

“*Nevertheless,’* said Mr.
Doolan, ‘the El's exterior dimen-
sions are very compact. Its
unusual dimensions and singular
styling give the car a look that, at
once, catches your eve and an-
nounces itis a BMW."

The El measures 340 em long,
160 cm wide and 150 cm high. fr
has short front and = rear
overhangs; a small, low-slung
hood; large windows and a
coupe-like silhouette; as well as
“typical’’ BMW. styling features

such as the kidney grill and cir-
cular headlights behind glass. It is
equipped with special tires to
reduce roll resistance.

The E} has a drag coefficient of
0.32.

As well, according to Mr.
Doolan, BMW's new electric car
meets, or exceeds, all safety
standards applicable to conven-
tional vehicles. The bodyshell is
safer than that on any car of
comparable size, the battery is fit-
ted out of harm's way and there is

ay

n

a special ‘*knee bar’? beneath the
instrument panel. In addition,
BMW has installed crossbars and
reinforcement members in the
doors and bodyshell to protect
passengers in. the event of a colli-
sion from the side.

The electric BMW is equipped
with airbags for the driver and
front passenger and, as on the
12-cylinder 850i coupe, the front
seats feature integral seatbelts
which transmit the force from a
collision directly to the floor of

845 MARINE DRIVE, NORTH VANCOUVER 987-5231.

the car.

The El is the first vehicle
designed and built by BMW
specifically to be electrically
powered. It is not, however, the
company’s first electric car.

During the 1972 Olympics, two
electrically-driven test cars ac-
companied the marathon runners
through Munich. Research and
development has continued since
that time. There are eight electric
cars, based on the BMW 325ix,
currently in use as test vehicles.

NOTICE
EXTENDED
SERVICE HOURS:
Mon.-Thurs. 8:00-8:00
Fri-Sat. 8:00-6:00
SALES OPEN SUNDAY