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BMW ActiveE (photos)

BMW unveiled its production version of the ActiveE electric vehicle at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. The carmaker plans to ship 700 EVs to the U.S. for long-term customer testing this fall. Priced at $499 per month with a $2,250 down payment for a 24-month lease, the BMW ActiveE is one of the more affordable BMWs on the market. The trade-off, of course, is its limited range.

Liane Yvkoff
Liane Yvkoff is a freelance writer who blogs about cars for CNET Car Tech. E-mail Liane.
Liane Yvkoff
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BMW ActiveE (side)

The BMW ActiveE is being billed by the company as a no-compromise electric vehicle. A zero tailpipe emissions vehicle theoretically means zero guilt, and yet you still get the same luxury interior and somewhat similar driving experience for which the BMW brand is known.
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BMW ActiveE (rear)

Performance-wise, the ActiveE can accelerate from 0-60 in under 9 seconds, which is on par with the Nissan Leaf, maybe even slower. Nissan doesn't provide 0-60 stats for its vehicles, but independent testing by Green Car Advisor clocks the Leaf's 0-60 at 7 seconds.
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BMW ActiveE (internal)

The car is based on the 1-Series, but under the hood of the ActiveE is a 32-kWh electric motor that delivers 170 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. A 7-kW on-board charger provide fast 240-volt charging of the battery with active thermal management that should consistently provide an estimated 100-mile range regardless of weather. Performance-wise, the ActiveE can accelerate from 0-60 in under 9 seconds, which is on par with the Nissan Leaf, maybe even slower. Nissan doesn't provide 0-60 stats for its vehicles, but independent testing by Green Car Advisor clocks the Leaf's 0-60 at 7 seconds.
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BMW ActiveE (front)

The BMW ActiveE concept was revealed at the Detroit auto show last year. New on the ActiveE production vehicle is a hood bulge to accommodate the 32 kWh battery, toned-down (but standard) graphics, and slight interior changes.
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BMW ActiveE (interior)

The production ActiveE received new Dakota Pearl Gray leather with blue contrast stitching.
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BMW ActiveE app

BMW will build upon the My BMW Remote app to let customers control electric charging.

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