BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/tech/" rel="tag">Technology</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/bmw/" rel="tag">BMW</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/design-style/" rel="tag">Design/Style</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/bmw-i-solar-carport-concept/"><img alt="BMW i Solar Carport Concept" data-credit="BMW" data-mep="248389" src="http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/1247x837+21+13/resize/628x417!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/49496f1994a67ae01e0e98598 bde7fe5/200097362/BMW-i-solar-carport-002.jpg" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2014/05/02/bmw-i3-epa-81-mile-range-delivered/">With the first deliveries</a> of the <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/bmw/i3/">i3</a> under way, and the recent <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/bmw/i8/">i8</a> <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/28/2015-bmw-i8-review-first-drive-video/">press launch</a>, the marketing push in the US for the <a href="https://www.autoblog.com/bmw/">BMW</a> electric sub-brand has begun. These i vehicles are supposed to have a completely different feel from the rest of the brand's lineup. To complement their earth-friendly ethos, the Bavarian company commissioned BMW Group DesignworksUSA in California to create a solar carport concept that could keep the models sustainably topped up on power. It premiered alongside the i8 in Los Angeles at the electric sports coupe's media launch.<br />
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At first glance, the BMW i Solar Carport Concept looks like a pergola from a winery or a well-groomed garden, but like the i vehicles, the deeper you look, the more high-tech features there are. The sides feature carbon elements in a similar way that the i3 and i8 have a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic body. Bamboo forms the uprights because its quick-growing nature makes it rather sustainable, and the solar panels are strung along the top to harness energy.<br />
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Obviously the sun can't provide all of the energy that the electric cars need, and a BMW Wallbox Pro charger is also connected to the power grid as a supplement. It includes a readout telling users the amount of solar energy versus municipal electricity it's using.<br />
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The carport is just a concept for now, but it shows off the image that BMW wants for these new models. They are supposed to be green, premium vehicles with modern, eco-friendly design. <a href="/2014/05/09/bmw-i-solar-charging-carport-official/#continued">Scroll down</a> to get the full details about the solar carport in the release.<p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/09/bmw-i-solar-charging-carport-official/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/09/bmw-i-solar-charging-carport-official/">BMW i creates high-design solar charging carport</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 09 May 2014 08:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="/rss-term-of-use/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/09/bmw-i-solar-charging-carport-official/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/20881843/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2014/05/09/bmw-i-solar-charging-carport-official/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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