Plugs and Cars

JANUARY 29, 2009

Consumers would be buying now if there were products,” says Gregor Matthies, a Munich-based partner at Bain who specializes in the auto industry. A friend called me while behind the wheel of the MINI E last night and it is, not surprisingly, a hoot to drive. Yet it took BMW less than one year to make an electric car.

Electric Cars 100

Electric Cars Mini E BMW Cars 100

Revenge of the Electric Car

APRIL 12, 2010

BMW will partner with composites expert SGL Group to construct a new plant in Moses Lake, Washington, that will manufacture lightweight carbon-fiber materials for auto industry applications. Nonetheless, the various materials for the MegaCity’s components are transported around the world, as in most modern industrial products.

Carbon Fiber 133

Carbon Fiber BMW Carbon Mitsubishi 133

Revenge of the Electric Car

MAY 17, 2010

BMW’s Mini is rolling out its electric car in three phases. In 2008 the company released a test fleet of 450 Mini-E vehicles and is getting ready to announce its second phase. The third phase will be released around 2015. The uncertainty surrounding Chinese demand for electric cars is tied to subsidies, Mr. Yang says.

China 133

China E6 Gasoline-Electric Chinese 133

Plugs and Cars

APRIL 24, 2009

And these days a billion dollars is barely a rounding error in the money going to prop up the American auto industry. But other cars, including the MINI E, will be out and about soon, and stimulus money abounds, so the question of public EV infrastructure is much discussed. That would be a game changer.

GM 100

GM Companies Electric Vehicles Obama 100