BMW began testing electric cars in the 1970s. It built a pair of battery-powered 1602 coupes for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany.
In the 1960s, when the electric car looked more like a far-fetched science fair experiment than a relatively convenient way of moving people and goods, investing in electrification made little sense. And yet, it’s the early, rudimentary prototypes that paved the road for the current crop of EVs. For example, BMW displayed a stunning amount of foresight when it built a pair of electric 1602s and tested them during a major sporting event.
Recommended Videos The brand’s range was much smaller in the 1960s than today, so picking the 1602 as a starting point was almost a no-brainer. It’s the predecessor to the modern-day 3 Series, and it was a popular model that played a sizable role in establishing BMW’s image as we know it today. The pack weighed about 770 pounds. For context, the standard 1602 tipped the scale at roughly 2,070 pounds. The added mass severely compromised performance: reaching 31 mph from a stop took eight seconds, and with enough tarmac, you could eventually get to a top speed of 62 mph. Lead-acid batteries aren’t as dense as today’s lithium-ion batteries, so range was dismal: 19 miles in city traffic and up to 40 miles when driving at 31 mph.
BMW Concept Electric Evs Prototype
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