BMW has unveiled the ActiveE, the German automaker’s first electric car that can drive about 100 miles between charges, at the New York International Auto Show.
The ActiveE, based on BMW’s 1-series car, is a plug-in electric vehicle. Unlike, the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Roadster, which are sold through dealers, BMW will lease about 700 cars out for $500 a month over two years.
BMW didn’t announce the price of the care, but reported the ActiveE can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about nine seconds with its 170 horsepower engine.
The Nissan Leaf can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about seven seconds, while the Tesla Roadster can generate as much as 248 horsepower off its electric engine and can perform the 0-60 mph standard in just under four seconds.
Drivers in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Boston and Connecticut will be able to reserve the ActiveE this summer.
Article Last Updated: April 21, 2011.
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A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004.
In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida.
An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
