At the international launch of its plug-in hybrid sports car, the i8, in Los Angeles, BMW unveiled a way of recharging its i-cars in a guilt-free fashion - the solar-powered carport.
Developed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA, the carport is designed to ape the look of the i3 and i8 models from the German manufacturer, while using the best technology available to harness the power of sunlight. And to ensure BMW keeps the green brigade totally happy, the carport is made from bamboo - a plant with such rapid growth that it classes as a sustainable raw material.
The carport can be used with the manufacturer's i Wallbox Pro to juice up the batteries in a totally ecological manner that you can easily keep an eye on. Curiously though, despite the fact BMW says the glass-on-glass solar panels used are high-grade, it doesn't deign to reveal how long it would take to charge either an i3 or i8's battery using the sun alone. Presumably, reasonably quick in the glaring everyday sunshine of California; not so good in dull, overcast Ireland.
Anything else?
"With the solar carport concept we opted for a holistic approach: not only is the vehicle itself sustainable, but so is its energy supply," explains Tom Allemann, who is responsible for the carport design at BMW Group DesignworksUSA. "This is therefore an entirely new generation of carports that allows energy to be produced in a simple and transparent way. It renders the overarching theme of lightweight design both visible and palpable." Although we would stress it is just a concept at this stage, Tom...