According to BMW’s website, the i3’s production process “uses 50% less energy and 70% less water.” BMW’s sustainable manufacturing process extends to the interior of the vehicle – with 25% of the features made from renewable and recycled materials. So not only are you driving in luxury, but your i3 is engineered using state-of-the-art eco-friendly materials. The open-pore Eucalyptus-wood, for example, is a living dashboard that darkens with time – giving you a modern, yet elegant dashboard that no other car has on the road.

BMW’s four-passenger EV comes with a removable B-pillar and center console – allowing for a spacious interior that resembles the inside of the 3 Series with one major difference: the i3 comes with olive leaf tanned leather. Available on both the Giga World and Tera World packages, BMW’s leather interior is a “natural process deriving from olive leaf extract tanning the leather and protecting it from both fading and water.”

The Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic is what truly separates the BMW i3 from other premium luxury electric vehicles. Considered to be “the secret to the vehicle’s remarkable performance,” the CFRP makes the i3 the lightest BMW model ever made. Just as strong as steel, the two-piece structure “increases agility, driving range, and interior comfort.” BMW designed the i3 by striking the perfect balance between range and performance.

As for the technological bells and whistles, the i3 is certainly impressive even though it doesn’t stack up against Tesla’s innovation. The on-board navigational system touts a Range Assistant – providing the driver with a full suite of real-time information including battery charge levels, a dynamic range map, driving style reports, traffic updates, and topographical info. By pairing the navigational system with ConnectedDrive services, you instantly have a powerful driving tool at your disposal. If you sync your smartphone to the system, you have the ability to check car diagnostics from afar.

Capable of 0-60 mph in 7-seconds and equipped with brake energy regeneration that restores battery power while driving, BMW’s i3 is a high-performance eco-friendly vehicle powered by a 170 horsepower engine. The i3 can be fully charged in just 4.5 hours using a level 2 charging station. If you’re pressed with time, drivers can get up to an 80% charge in approximately 30-30 minutes using the DC Combo Fast Charger. With over 28,000 + U.S. charging stations in the ChargePoint network and the option to install a home charging station, you’ll never have to worry about running about of battery power.