For the team at BMW i, reimagining the Ultimate Driving Machine for today’s eco-conscious drivers and future generations meant rethinking every step of a car’s life cycle: from production right through to servicing and the final recycling stage. This move towards a more nature-inspired experience resulted in the BMW i3 and BMW i3s; two models which incorporate recycled materials and produce zero driving emissions.

A REDESIGNED EXPERIENCE.

No stone has been left unturned in the quest to make the BMW i3 and i3s more sustainable. This includes completely redesigning the structure of the car using carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). The passenger compartment no longer requires a B pillar for example – reducing the vehicle’s weight for greater efficiency, and allowing for a more spacious interior.

EMBRACING NATURAL ELEMENTS.

Using recycled plastics and renewable raw materials such as kenaf and open-pored, unbleached eucalyptus wood sourced from sustainable forests, the BMW i3 and i3s demonstrate how a car interior can be both environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing. All-in-all, more than 80% of the visible surfaces are made from recycled materials or renewable resources.

THE WINDS OF CHANGE.

Three of the major facilities used for building the BMW i3 and i3s are completely powered by wind energy. This includes Landshut where the CFRP passenger compartment is built. Other facilities, such as the BMW SGL Moses Lake plant in Washington State which is responsible for carbon fibre production, are 100% powered by hydro-generated electricity.

POWERED BY NATURE.

Since its first foray into more sustainable forms of mobility, BMW has continually pushed the boundaries of what’s possible, especially with respect to battery life. The BMW i3 now boasts an all-electric range of up to 188 miles, thanks to its cutting-edge 120Ah lithium-ion battery.

Click to explore the BMW i3 and BMW i3s.