BMW Is Planning an All-Electric i8

BMW is planning a fully electric i8. Meanwhile the current hybrid powerplant set-up might be ditched.

According to Autocar, the producer is developing a prototype fully electric i8. The automaker wants to know the viability of the sports vehicle without the regular 1.5-litre V3 engine. The prototype should have 3 electric motors instead of the hybrid set-up. Besides, a rather large battery will provide plenty of range. The innovated electric powerplant will feature 1 electric motor at the front and 2 of them in the rear part. Reports suggest that the innovated brushless electric motors will be able to provide higher revving in comparison with the current offerings that were used during the i8 production. The motors will also be more compact.

The automaker wants to give the current vehicle a facelift before showing us the new i8. Previous reports suggest that the innovated i8 will use the same technology as the Formula E safety car uses. We remind you that the last one has a modified air extractor unit which has an extra Gurney flap together with its edge for the electric motor placed at the front part. The updated i8 from BMW has also a facelifted rear part. It rocks a carbon fibber-reinforced plastic tailgate featuring 8 separate air vents replacing the current glass window.