BMW E1

'''BMW E1''' is the name of two [[electric car|electric]]/[[hybrid electric car|hybrid]] [[city car]] [[concept car|concepts]] by [[Germany|German]] automobile manufacturer [[BMW]], revealed at the 1991 then 1993 [[International Motor Show Germany]].

==First generation (Z11; 1991)== {{Infobox automobile | name = BMW E1 (Z11) | image = | caption = | manufacturer = [[BMW]] | aka = | production = 1991 | model_years = | assembly = | designer = Mark Clarke, [[Henrik Fisker]] (1991)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.below-the-radar.com/bmw-e1/|title=BMW E1|website=Below the Radar|first=Richard|last=Dredge|date=8 April 2021 |accessdate=27 July 2023}}</ref> | class = [[City car]] ([[A-segment|A]]) | body_style = 3-door [[hatchback]] | layout = | platform = | related = | engine = | battery = 19 kWh [[sodium sulphate]] battery | transmission = | propulsion = | wheelbase = | length = {{cvt|3460|mm|in}} | width = {{cvt|1648|mm|in}} | height = ~{{cvt|1500|mm|in}} | weight = | predecessor = | successor = [[BMW E1 (Z15)]] }}

The first-generation BMW E1 prototype, the Z11, was revealed in 1991, and was all-electric. Only one example of this car was built.

===Overview=== The Z11-gen BMW E1 concept was revealed at the 1991 [[International Motor Show Germany]] in [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]]. It was a fully-functional 3-door, 4-seat [[electric car|electric]] [[city car]]. The E1 initially began development in 1990 with Technik, a division of BMW started in 1985, created to develop new technologies for cars. It was designed to test if a production electric car would work, partly due to the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[California]]'s demand that 2% of new cars sold in the state be [[zero emission]]. This is the same reason for the creation of the [[General Motors EV1]].<ref name="z11">{{cite web|url=https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/anything-goes-throwback-thursday/throwback-thursday-1992-bmw-e1-first-drive|title=Throwback Thursday 1992: BMW E1 first drive|website=[[Autocar (magazine)|Autocar]]|first=Kris|last=Culmer|date=15 March 2018|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

===Specifications=== The Z11 E1 concept was powered by a 19 kWh [[sodium sulphate]] battery, which in turn powered a direct-drive motor on the rear axle, giving the car a total output of 45 [[brake horsepower|bhp]] and 111 lb ft. of [[torque]]. The E1 had a range of {{cvt|155|miles|km}} and two-hour [[rapid charging]]. The structure of the car was made from [[aluminum]] while the body was made from [[recycled plastic]] and was finished in a bright red paint. The car used custom-built [[alloy wheel]]s, which were {{cvt|14|in|mm}} in the front and {{cvt|16|in|mm}} in the back.<ref name="z11"/>

===Replacement=== The only Z11-gen E1 concept was destroyed in a fire that occurred while it was charging, and was replaced by a new concept for 1993.<ref>{{citation|url=https://bmw-grouparchiv.de/research/detail/index.xhtml?id=3712702|title=Der E1 – zum Zweiten|website=BMW Group Archive|date=1 September 1993|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bmwblog.com/2016/04/24/bmw-e1-electric-car-quirky-ahead-time/|title=The BMW E1 Electric Car was quirky and ahead of its time|website=BMW Blog|first=Nico|last=DeMattia|date=24 April 2016|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

==Second generation (Z15; 1993)== {{Infobox automobile | name = BMW E1 (Z15) | image = File:BMW E1 Concept Motorshow di Bologna - anni 90' - 3244081064.jpg | caption = 1993 BMW E1 at Motorshow di Bologna (front) | manufacturer = [[BMW]] | aka = BMW E2<ref name=e2>{{cite web|url=https://greencarjournal.com/dont-miss/early-bmw-electric-vehicle-development-the-bmw-e2/|title=Early BMW Electric Vehicle Development: The BMW E2|website=Green Car Journal|first=Ron|last=Cogan|date=28 November 2022|accessdate=27 July 2023}}</ref> | production = 1993 (2 built; one EV and one hybrid) | model_years = | assembly = | designer = Mark Clarke (1993)<ref name=e2 /> | class = [[City car]] ([[A-segment|A]]) | body_style = 3-door [[hatchback]] | layout = | platform = | related = | engine = [[4-cylinder engine]] | battery = 19.2 kWh [[Molten-salt battery|Sodium nickel chloride]] battery | transmission = 5-speed [[manual transmission|manual]] (hybrid variant)<br />[[automatic transmission|automatic]] | propulsion = | wheelbase = | length = | width = | height = | weight = | predecessor = [[BMW E1 (Z11)]] | successor = [[BMW i3 (hatchback)|BMW i3]] (spiritual) }}

[[File:BMW E1 rear.jpg|thumb|left|1993 BMW E1 at the [[BMW Museum]] (rear)]]

The second-generation BMW E1 prototype, the Z15, was revealed in 1993 at [[International Motor Show Germany]] on September 9, 1993. Two examples of the car were built; an all-electric version and a [[hybrid electric car|hybrid]] version. The Z15, like the previous Z11, was also a 3-door city car that seats four passengers.

===Specifications=== The electric version is powered by a 19.2 kWh [[Molten-salt battery|sodium nickel chloride]] battery and has a top speed of {{cvt|80|mph|kph}}. It is finished in a green metallic paint and features a green interior.<ref name="autoblog">{{cite web|url=https://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/26/back-in-time-a-gallery-of-bmws-electric-car-prototypes-through/|title=Back in time: a gallery of BMW's electric car prototypes through the years|website=AutoBlog|first=Xavier|last=Navarro|date=26 June 2009|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref>

The hybrid version also uses the [[4-cylinder engine|4-cylinder]] [[internal combustion engine]] used in the [[BMW K1100]] motorcycle and a 5-speed [[manual transmission]], and has an output of 82 hp. This variant is painted red.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z3702/bmw-e1.aspx|title=1993 BMW E1|website=Conceptcarz.com|accessdate=4 October 2021}}</ref><ref name="autoblog"/>

Both examples of the Z15-gen E1 feature a similar lightweight body to that of the Z11, which is made of aluminum and plastic.<ref name="autoblog"/>

==Legacy== Although the E1 was never produced, BMW introduced the ICE-powered 1993 [[BMW 3 Series Compact|3 Series Compact]], featuring similar styling to the Z11, two years after the Z11 E1 concept's revealing. Furthermore, BMW did eventually introduce an electric city car, the [[BMW i3 (hatchback)|i3]], in 2013, 20 years after the Z15 concept. The Z15 concept remains at the [[BMW Museum]] in [[Munich]].{{cn|date=March 2024}}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|BMW E1}}

[[Category:BMW concept vehicles]] [[Category:Hatchbacks]]