BMW likely to favour aluminium over carbon fibre for building the new i3

BMW is gearing up for the launch of its second-generation i3 in 2022, reported sources close to the company. The timeline thought set at six years from now, a renowned automobile industry magazine reports, the premium car maker has already started R&D of the vehicle in a full-fledged manner.

It is learnt from the above sources, that BMW is considering three different construction methods for the upcoming i3. The idea, of course, is to make the car affordable while not compromising on the efficiency part. The Bavarian company intends to position its new machine in the same space as the new Chevrolet Bolt, a close rival in the electric car category.

BMW is said to be considering a number of material options for building the second-gen i3. Firstly, it is mulling using carbon fibre to build the car, just like the current model. However, given the higher cost of carbon fibre, it could be ditched finally in favour of an all-aluminium construction. A decision in this direction would help the company save significantly in development and production costs.

BMW is also said to be assessing building the next i3 from a mix of five or six materials, which would include elements of carbon fibre, plastics, steel and aluminium.

Whichever building material the car maker chooses to go ahead with, the new i3 will inevitably sport a significantly higher electric range provided the battery packs continue to shed weight. That would make the new model all the more lighter than the outgoing car.

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