Munich Germany - BMW has released a video with the history of the first all-electric car to be developed by the company, the 1602e, which the German carmaker built and tested four decades ago.
The bright orange prototype was a milestone in BMW’s all-electric technology and a forerunner to today's i3 runabout and i8 sports-car. Until now, little had been known about the 1602e, with many details still locked in company archives.
The car debuted in 1972 to mark the Olympic Games being held in Munich. Two were built as zero-emission shuttles to transport VIPs and support marathon running and walking events.
12-VOLT BATTERIES
The 1602e had a dozen ordinary 12-volt batteries under the bonnet instead of a conventional four-cylinder petrol engine. Motive power came from a proprietory Bosch electric motor.
With a range of just 60 kilometres and a meagre 32kW on tap, the car was never destined for mass production. It predated the 1973 oil crisis and stringent US emission regulations.
One of the two electric cars remains in pristine condition in the factory museum and has since been equipped with more modern batteries in order to remain mobile.
dpa