BMW Group Selects AeroVironment To Provide Electric Vehicle Charging Solution For BMW ActiveE Introduction in Major U ...

{"s" : "avav","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: AeroVironment On Wednesday May 18, 2011, 9:10 am EDT

MONROVIA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AeroVironment (NASDAQ:AVAV - News) today announced that the BMW Group has selected it as the preferred provider of electric vehicle charging equipment, accessories and installation services supporting the introduction of the all-electric BMW ActiveE.

The BMW ActiveE electric vehicle is the second phase of the BMW Group’s electro-mobility development strategy and brings all-electric technology to a new class of luxury vehicles. ActiveE vehicles will be distributed in the major metropolitan markets of Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento.

Based on the chassis of a BMW 1 Series Coupe, the ActiveE electric car features an electric drivetrain and is powered by an advanced, high-voltage, lithium-ion battery pack. AeroVironment’s EVSE-RS charging station will deliver approximately 25 miles of driving range per hour of charging time. A complete charge from a fully discharged state will take between four and five hours, delivering the ActiveE’s maximum range of 100 miles. The charging stations will be installed with a 240-volt electric circuit in drivers’ home garages as part of the vehicle’s total driving system, and are designed to provide a safe, practical and dependable charge.

“BMW has a strong legacy as one of the world’s premier performance luxury brands, and AeroVironment looks forward to bringing our own legacy of reliability and innovation to BMW’s exciting new launch,” said Tim Conver, chairman and chief executive officer of AeroVironment. “Together, we can expand boundaries in providing practical, emissions-free mobility to the performance vehicle market.”

The BMW ActiveE will be a prelude to the 2013 launch of the Megacity Vehicle, BMW Group’s all-electric urban hatchback.

About BMW Group

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 138 BMW motorcycle retailers, 103 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

About AeroVironment, Inc.

AeroVironment is a technology solutions provider that designs, develops, produces and supports an advanced portfolio of electric transportation solutions and electric-powered Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). AeroVironment’s comprehensive EV charging solutions include EV home charging, public charging, fast charging, data collection, grid-integrated communications and complete installation, training and support services for consumers, automakers, utilities, government agencies and businesses. AeroVironment’s industrial fast charging systems support thousands of electric materials handling vehicles in mission-critical supply chains for Fortune 500 enterprises. AeroVironment’s power cycling and test systems provide EV developers and EV battery manufacturers with market-leading simulation and cycling capabilities. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company’s battery-powered, hand-launched unmanned aircraft systems to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance and communication. More information is available at www.avinc.com and www.evsolutions.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are made on the basis of current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, economic, competitive, governmental and technological factors outside of our control, that may cause our business, strategy or actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, our ability to perform under existing contracts and obtain additional contracts; changes in the regulatory environment; the activities of competitors; failure of the markets in which we operate to grow; failure to expand into new markets; failure to develop new products or integrate new technology with current products; and general economic and business conditions in the United States and elsewhere in the world. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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BMW to lease ActiveE, its newest electric vehicle

Last Updated: April 18. 2011 7:22PM

New York — BMW AG will lease 1,100 of its next-generation electric vehicle — the ActiveE — this fall and use its first four-cylinder engine in more than a decade in a U.S. model, the German automaker said today.

BMW said it will lease about 700 of the ActiveE in the United States in six markets: the New York metropolitan area, Boston, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego and Los Angeles.

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The company made the announcements at a Manhattan BMW dealership ahead of this week's New York International Auto Show.

BMW North American Chairman and CEO Jim O'Donnell told reporters that he's "far more optimistic" about diesel vehicles boosting U.S. market share than EVs — and he said the U.S. government should end the $7,500 tax credit for EVs.

"I believe in a free economy. I think we should abolish all tax credits," O'Donnell said, saying it was his personal opinion. "What they are doing is putting a bet on technology, which is not appropriate. As a taxpayer I am not sure this is right way to go."

O'Donnell said BMW will accept tax credits for EVs, but he wants a "level playing field" between different technologies, likes clean diesels, which he said are "slightly disadvantaged" by tax policy.

BMW spokesman Tom Kowaleski clarified that the company supports some incentives.

"BMW works closely in partnership with governments and markets around the world to stimulate the development of advanced technologies leading to a more sustainable future of mobility.Often times, this stimulation will take the form of incentives to encourage consumers to adapt these new technologies, a broad range of which we are actively developing," he said.

O'Donnell also said Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn's prediction of 10 percent of all vehicles by EVs by 2020 was too optimistic.

"From a practicality point of view (EVs), won't work for most people," O'Donnell said. "For at least 90 percent and maybe more of the population, (an EV) won't work (at the current battery range)."

BMW also disclosed it will use the four-cylinder engine in the Z4 sDrive28i Roadster. The new turbo engine will offer power similar to a six-cylinder engine used in the Z4 Roadster. O'Donnell said he expects the new engine will also be added to more vehicles later this year but he declined to elaborate.

BMW is moving ahead with its electric vehicle and will unveil two new EVs in 2013.

When it begins leasing the ActiveE this fall, the two-year-lease will cost $499 a month with a down payment of $2,250.

This is the second-generation electric vehicle BMW is leasing as it prepares to sell its i3 — a pure EV — in 2013.

It will also sell a small number of i8 vehicles — a supercar with an electric motor and a hybrid gasoline engine — for more than $100,000, said Richard Steinberg, manager of electric vehicle operations and strategy for BMW North America.

Steinberg said the volume of the i3 would be similar to the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt — or around 10,000 to 20,000 in the first year.

In 2009, BMW leased about 450 of its Mini EV in the United States — and another 250 around the world. It extended the leases of about 100 owners and sent the rest to France and China for further testing.

dshepardson@detnews.com

(202) 662-8735

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