The 2016 BMW i3 has a lot going for it. The electric vehicle combines all the luxury and fun drivers expect with an alternative power source that enhances fuel efficiency and keeps the environmental costs low. And as it turns out, that alternative power source - a high voltage battery - has other important uses as well, which BMW announced at the Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 29 (EVS29) in Montreal last month.
BMW was excited to announce a new set of applications for the BMW i battery, which will allow it a second life after its time powering BMW cars. The BMW i3 battery, either from an early stage in its life or once it no longer has the capacity to work as a car battery, can be re-purposed for energy storage in residential and commercial facilities. The battery can integrate with solar panels or charging stations, and provide power during peak times as well as serve as backup for power outages. Typically, residential energy draws are significantly less than those of a vehicle, so this is the perfect application for 2nd Life Batteries in particular. This re-use of the BMW i3 battery allows BMW and drivers to make an even bigger commitment to sustainability, even when the battery in question is no longer useful or needed in a vehicle.
This new use for BMW i technology certainly isn't the only reason to invest in a 2016 BMW i3, but it's one more example of why the vehicle is an especially great choice for the environmentally conscious. And whether or not you're invested in sustainability, the electric vehicle is still a BMW, which means it has all the fun of a BMW and all the comforts of a luxury car. Baltimore drivers can find out more about the 2016 BMW i3, and the technology that powers it, here at BMW of Catonsville.