BMW is reportedly working on a pure battery version of its swoopy i8 sports car, to be sold alongside the current petrol-electric plug-in hybrid edition.
It’s not the first time an alternative i8 powertrain has been mooted – the BMW concept car that previewed the i8 was a diesel hybrid, petrolhead rumours have suggested that the i8’s batteries might be ditched entirely to make way for a V6 or V8, while BMW itself has chopped and stretched the i8 to squeeze in an experimental hydrogen fuel-cell system (pictured).
![FCEV i8 featured a modified chassis FCEV BMW i8 rear view](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPWn4lTkxp9jbcR1EtWgwyWzT9-8BeixtsrcN9zAjzJOKLOoB54Oj6vbNwz566azsNaqlaVfdwWwWHBcG1mMDW04wZwMZDWTA6Q9ea-D4siMZ6TlFUtGpBVFnhljx_DByK1iW/s660/bmw-i8-hydrogen-prototype-rear.jpg)
According to reports, which first seemed to surface in Australia, BMW plans to exploit its fuel-cell i8 design to build a BEV edition.
As well as altered exterior bodywork the hydrogen i8 featured a wider centre tunnel and other modifications to make room for the large tanks required to carry around 4kg of hydrogen gas compressed to 700 bar, plus a rear-mounted fuel cell stack.
![Battery EV i8 is on the cards FCEV i8 front view](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWITBom6XVIeWojKoMoOXhn8oW1cThka2ywQnKhwGK9vYh7c8EHF2TaSBABVZ7RCsvfODiJeuIx2_kmTFzuTji6Ow1jyIJ_LJNV4kmEH_BJ5bU1KM-gMymEDUdQUKBexZJHg_V/s660/bmw-i8-hydrogen-prototype-front.jpg)
The experimental i8 was built five years ago and tested for three years but was never intended to become a roadgoing product.
Now the hydrogen car’s more spacious chassis might play host to the equivalent of two battery packs from BMW’s i3 electric car – the recently upgraded 33kWh variety to boot. And perhaps even a little more. That would give the i8 sufficient reserves to cover about 250 miles and of course to challenge Tesla, which offers battery packs rated at between 60kWh and 90kWh.
![Current i8 is a petrol-electric plug-in BMW i8 rear view](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggI-ctHIq4JQbefpb5xtDSloSvvcby7agCKOarT9TqA3yYtdBtIya7Um0B9oeq5hAIBAH2qUJ04I9RWyLuLaWW9UV7lfCTnAfNFOwtWomoAE5p8TAptZuPwA6N5dHHvedLgjvu/s660/bmw-i8-doors-open-rear.jpg)