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The Citizen
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Citizen
BMW E1: The unlikely 1991 concept that quietly shaped the future of EVs
Looking at the pictures of this dumpy, rust-coloured city car, you're no doubt wondering how such a creation could find its way onto our Cool Concepts page, but BMW's E1 was more cutting-edge and influential than its pedestrian appearance would suggest. Looking for a new or used vehicle? Find it here with CARmag! Unveiled at the 1991 Frankfurt Motor Show in response to tightening emissions laws coming out of the United States (remember, in the 80s, between 70 and 80% of cars there were V8-engined), the E1 was a product of BMW Technik GmbH: the same engineering division that brought us such novelties as the Z1 and the zany Z18, which placed a Z3 roadster-style body on a high-riding SUV chassis. BMW was all too aware of the limitations of battery technology at the time, especially with regard to operating range and charging, so it chose to develop E1 as an urban mobility solution. Related: All-New Honda Amaze Lands in SA – Pricing and Spec Unlike many concepts, which are little more than an eye-catching shell on a chassis, powered by a golf cart motor, the E1 was built as a fully roadworthy prototype. This meant that in addition to accommodating the practical considerations and high-quality cabin materials typical of BMWs, the E1 also had to conform to the crash-safety standards of the day. To achieve this, the car was not only fitted with dual front airbags, but also utilised an innovative construction comprising an aluminium frame clad with plastic panels that was both tough and lightweight. A rear axle-mounted electric motor fed by sodium-sulphur batteries mounted under the rear seat (another nod to production-viable crash safety) developed a modest 37kW but was good for a top speed of 120km/h and a very respectable range of 200km. Charging was achieved via a standard electrical socket, using a plug stashed in one of the E1's kidney grille panels, and took six hours. Related: Toyota Celebrates 40 Years at Le Mans With Throwback Liveries These features may not seem that significant by current standards, but they were cutting-edge at a time when EVs were little more than an automotive pipe dream. Unfortunately, the E1 was perhaps a little too far ahead of its time in some regards. Deficiencies in the cooling systems needed for the sodium-sulphur batteries, which had the double-threat disadvantages of high optimal operating temperature and highly combustible innards, were revealed when the original prototype caught fire while charging, destroying the car and part of an adjacent building. Consequently, BMW utilised more stable sodium-nickel chloride batteries for its successor, the 1993 Z15 concept. The E1 may have looked bizarre and been limited by the battery technology of the time (not to mention sadly combustible) but its design and architecture would go on to form the blueprint for BMW's first production-series EV, the i3, as well as casting the die for the growing range of impressive i EV models to come. Click here and browse thousands of new and used vehicles here with CARmag! The post Cool Concepts – BMW E1 Concept appeared first on CAR Magazine. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
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First Post
12-05-2025
- General
- First Post
History Today: When one of the worst earthquakes shook China's Sichuan province, killing 87,000
Nearly 87,000 people lost their lives while hundreds of others were injured in an earthquake that hit China's Sichuan province on May 12, 2008. China launched massive relief and rescue operations, but matters turned worse when aftershocks of nearly six magnitude struck later. On this day in 1941, the first programmable and fully automatic computer, Z3, was developed by German engineer Konrad Zuse read more Residents try to use mobile phone to call their missing relatives as they search for survivors amongst the rubble of a collapsed building in China's Sichuan Province on May 15, 2008. File image/AP Earthquakes have always had a devastating effect across the world. One of the worst earthquakes of all time was the one that occurred on May 12, 2008, in China's Sichuan province. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. On this day in 1941, the world's first programmable and fully automatic computer, the Z3, was officially presented in Berlin by German engineer Konrad Zuse. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here is all that took place across the world on this day. Sichuan earthquake of 2008 One of the worst earthquakes in the world took place on May 12, 2008, in the Sichuan province of China. The quake killed over 87,000 people, many of whom were trapped in collapsed school buildings. The event led to injuries affecting nearly five million individuals and the displacement of more than 15 million residents from their homes. Measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, the earthquake struck at 2:28 pm local time, with its epicentre in Wenchuan County, about 80 kilometres northwest of Chengdu. The deadliest quake in China since 1976, it caused widespread destruction across 10 provinces, levelling buildings, roads and infrastructure. Entire urban areas were reduced to a state of ruin. Of particular concern was the collapse of inadequately constructed school buildings, which ignited widespread public outcry concerning deficient construction standards and the accountability of governmental bodies. File image/AP If this was not all, aftershocks followed the earthquake with some of them registering above six magnitude. This turn complicated rescue efforts and deepened trauma. Massive landslides triggered by the quake buried communities and blocked rivers, creating dangerous 'quake lakes' that threatened to flood entire regions unless urgently drained. China launched an enormous rescue and relief operation , mobilising troops, medical teams, and volunteers from across the country. The Sichuan earthquake is important as it prompted a re-examination of building codes and emergency preparedness in China. It also led to massive investment in rebuilding efforts, particularly in rural and mountainous regions. The world's first programmable computer presented History was created on this day in 1941, with the presentation of the world's first programmable and fully automatic computer , the Z3, by German engineer Konrad Zuse. The Z3 marked a significant milestone in the evolution of computing, laying foundational principles for modern computers. The Z3, developed in the period between 1938 and 1941, employed electromechanical relays and operated at a frequency range of approximately 5 to 10 Hertz. Notably, it possessed the capability for floating-point arithmetic and exhibited Turing completeness, implying its theoretical ability to solve any computational problem given adequate time and memory. Input for basic arithmetic operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division was provided automatically through punched film. The original Z3 was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1943, but a working replica was later built. Representational image Zuse designed the Z3 to assist in engineering calculations for aircraft design at the German Research Institute for Aviation. It proved especially useful for solving complex equations and performing repetitive calculations faster and more accurately than human computation. Unlike earlier mechanical calculators, the Z3 operated fully automatically once a program was loaded, making it the first truly programmable computer. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Due to the secrecy of the project and the ongoing World War II, the Z3 remained largely unknown outside Germany during its time. Unfortunately, the original Z3 was destroyed during a bombing raid in 1943, but a working replica was later built and is now on display at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Zuse's innovation remained underrecognised until decades later, when historians acknowledged the Z3's place in computing history. The Z3 is recognised as the first step toward the powerful digital computers we use today. This Day, That Year On this day in 1937, King George VI of the United Kingdom was crowned following the abdication of Edward VIII. English nurse Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy on this day in 1820.
