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BMW & Daimler - Visio.M Urban EV

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AnOutsider

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Apr 3, 2009
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The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) is providing 10.8 million euros ($14.2 million U.S. at today's exchange rates) in funding for what's being called the Visio.M project. Scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) will work with automotive engineers to develop small, city-oriented EVs that have a maximum power of about 15 kW (20 horsepower) and a maximum weight of about 900 pounds (without battery) which would make the car about 45 percent lighter than a Smart ForTwo.

The overall goal here is to develop a car that's light enough to provide a sufficient single-charge urban driving range but strong enough to be as safe as a conventional vehicle.

BMW, Daimler will work together on Visio.M urban EV project
 
Visio.M: BMW and Daimler team up to build a better electric car

According to BMW, current EVs are too heavy because they are based on petrol-powered models. In contrast, the Visio.M will have a curb weight (without batteries) of 882 pounds; batteries will push that number over 1,000 lbs. Compare that to the two smallest EVs currently on sale. The Smart Fortwo weighs 2,150 lbs, and the Mitsubishi i weighs 2,600 lbs. The most popular EV, the Nissan Leaf, weighs 3,350 lbs.


Larry