$3 for 160km of travel - but would you pay BMW $63,900?

HOW much would you pay for an electric vehicle? Would it change if it wears a premium badge? That is the $63,900 question.

BMW has revealed the pricing for its new i3 electric car, which will be available later this year.

One overnight charge will cost you about $3 and provide a range of 130-160km.

It will start from $63,900, while the range extender model with a two-cylinder petrol engine attracts a $6000 premium.

The latter improves the i3's range to 240-300km.

BMW's i3 will be the third electric vehicle to go on sale in Australia.

The two predecessors, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and Nissan Leaf, have struggled.

The $48,800 i-MiEV is no longer in showrooms due to poor interest, while Nissan is offering the Leaf at $39,990 drive-away - which is a $20,000 discount on original pricing.

Australians have begun warming to hybrids such as the Prius and Camry from Toyota. More than 40% of Lexus sales this year have been hybrids, while Holden has the plug-in hybrid Volt and Mitsubishi has just released the PHEV hybrid SUV.

The new BMW i3 could be the game-changer electric cars need to become mainstream.

Using a standard household 10-amp plug, it takes 11 hours to charge from empty. A BMW 16amp wallbox takes about half that time.

More public charging facilities, which can provide a complete charge in about three hours, are expected to be announced by BMW closer to the vehicle's showroom launch.
 
VITAL STATISTICS

• Model: BMW i3.
• Weight: 1195kg (1315kg REx).
• Electric motor: Generates 125kW and a maximum torque of 250Nm from rest.
• Power consumption: 0.13 kilowatt hours per kilometre.
• Fuel consumption: 0 litres/100km; 0.6L/100km (REx).
• CO2: 0g/km; 13g/km (REx).
• Performance: 0-100 kmh in 7.2 seconds, 80-120kmh in 4.9 seconds; top speed 150kmh (limited, to maximise range).
• Warranty: Three-year unlimited kilometres, battery has an eight-year 100,000km warranty.
• Bottom line plus on-roads: i3 $63,900, i3 (REx)$69,900.