Since
last April 24th until May 9, 2014, Barcelona (Spain) has been the setting of
the international launch of BMW’s first completely electrical scooter, the BMW
C Evolution. With this innovative initiative as backdrop, a meeting took place
that gathered experts from different parts of the world for an in-depth
discussion about the challenges of sustainable mobility in the cities.
According
to a company statement, the event was attended by Xavier Trias, Mayor of the
city, and Antoni Maria Grau i Costa, General Director of Industry of the
Autonomous Catalan Government.
The
BMW C Evolution has been created following BMW’s sustainable strategy, in a
quest for zero-emissions without forgetting riding pleasure. The scooter offers
an innovative design, a range of 100-kilometres range, 47.5hp maximum power and
four riding modes.
“The
BMW C Evolution is BMW Motorrad’s answer to the mobility of the future. The
economical environmental and social changes require new solutions and with this
project, BMW Group takes a step ahead in its strategy of not being a company
that just produces vehicles, but a company that offers mobility in a wider
scope”, stated Guenther Seemann, CEO of BMW Group Spain and Portugal, during
his welcome speech.
Antoni
María Grau, General Director of Industry of the Catalan Government, explained,
“The Autonomous Government included sustainable mobility in its strategic
agenda, to help creating better conditions that allow Catalunya to become a
trailblazer region in this field”. Grau highlighted that the region “has a long
tradition in the motorcycle industry, being a reference in the South of
Europe”. He also stated that “it is an honour for Catalunya to be the setting
of the new electrical scooter’s international launch, created by such a
prominent company as BMW Group”.
The
Mayor of Barcelona, Xavier Trias, emphasised that "the launch of the first
100pc electrical scooter by BMW in Barcelona is a great opportunity to show the
world the innovative personality of the city and its will to promote electrical
mobility". The Mayor stated that "bikes are a central element in our
city’s mobility and we offer all kinds of facilities and charging points to
encourage the use of electrical vehicles "
Electrical
mobility offers many challenges, but also many opportunities for all:
manufacturers, cities and administrations. That was what was discussed in
Barcelona, a pioneering city in innovation and electrical mobility, during the
meetings organised by BMW Group.
Julian
Weber, responsible for Innovation and E-Mobility Projects, offered the
technical point of view, explaining the main features of the BMW i3, BMW’s
electrical vehicle. First, the Live-Drive system: two overlapping and separate
modules housing the powertrain system of the car and the passenger cell; and
the use of carbon fibre, a lighter material as resistant as steel, used for the
first time in production vehicles.
Carl-Friedrich
Eckhardt, BMW’s Mobility Services Manager, presented his point of view about
how modern cities can benefit from this new intermodal and sustainable form of
mobility.
Infrastructures
as a prerequisite for E-Mobility success, was the seminar presented by Diego
Martínez. Responsible for BMWi at BMW Group Spain, where he explained the
necessity to adapt cities to new mobility and how manufacturers and
administrations need to work together to achieve it.
Source: BMW / Picture
shows Guenther Seeman, Executive Chairman Of BMW Group Spain and Portugal &
Xavier Trias, Mayor of Barcelona with the BMW C Evolution