Since BMW announced efforts to couple autonomous driving with electric power under their iNext initiative, speculation has grown on specific features.
Recently, the company offered additional details by throwing down the gauntlet on electric vehicle range. First reported by Motor Trend, the company is claiming that their initial iNext vehicles, which will likely include an SUV, will be able to drive up to 435 miles on a full charge.
Just to offer some perspective, this would be almost two-and-a-half times the range of BMW’s sole purely electric vehicle – the i3. This increase would also exceed the best current electric vehicles' ranges of 150 miles from the Nissan Leaf, 238 miles with the Chevy Bolt, and 335 and 351 miles, respectively, with the Tesla 3 and S models. It is worth noting that if you’ve got $200,000 to spend on an electric supercar, Tesla’s Roadster does carry a 620-mile range.
From a price perspective, the iNext will probably compare most closely with the Tesla S, which carries a base price of about $75,000. However, that amount could go up with the promise of next-generation connectivity and autonomous driving capabilities.
This extended range would help combat concerns associated with finding a place to plug in during longer trips. In addition to new battery advancements, these vehicles would also benefit from the extensive use of lightweight carbon fiber wherever possible. iNext is expected to hit the streets in 2021.