A few years ago, the idea of an electric luxury car would have
seemed absurd: The two were almost oxymoronic. After being hit with a worldwide
recession and the rising cost of energy, though, green is not only acceptable,
it’s fashionable. But just in case it’s not fashionable enough, several luxury carmakers,
including BMW, are jumping into the race to develop eco-friendly models that
contain just as many extra features as extra MPGs.
The rush to develop and market electric cars has been
furious among a variety of midrange carmakers, including Ford, Chevy, Dodge and
Toyota, as well as a crop of startups
that are getting into the race. Toyota’s
luxury arm, Lexus, is set to release its first hybrid later this year, the
HS250h, and General Manager Mark Templin sums it up neatly, saying, “If all you
care about is MPG, go buy a Prius.” If you want heated seats, complimentary
loaner cars, the latest technology and a Lexus-quality ride, you go buy an
HS250h. You get the MPGs too; the HS250h, for example, is rumored to get better
mileage than a Smart car in city driving.
Other luxury brands are catching up, notably BMW. At this
year’s DC Auto Show, BMW turned heads with its Active-E concept car. This
all-electric car will provide “solutions to minimize environmental impacts
while preserving the kinetic driving experience for which BMW has long been
known.”
How does the Active-E address environmental concerns? With
its “new, advanced lithium-ion battery pack.” According to BMW, the battery
will power the Active-E for about 100 miles of average use before recharging is
required. Charge time will be about 4.5 hours. BMW fans can reach a healthy 90
mph, at which point speed is capped to preserve battery life.
And how does it address luxury concerns? The Active-E
basically uses the “existing vehicle package” of the 1 Series Coupe for
outstanding luxury, and if rumors are true, it can accelerate from zero to 60
mph in less than 9 seconds. Luxury green has arrived; carmakers are anxious to
see if the buyers have come too.
