Deliveries of BMW’s first fully electric car, the i3 supermini, arrived in the UK in November 2013, with prices starting from £28,680 after a £5,000 Plug–in Car Grant had been deducted.

Dubbed the worlds first premium car designed from the ground up as an electric car, the new i3 is one of the most highly anticipated additions to the green motoring scene.

Featuring a unique, lightweight carbon fibre reinforced plastic passenger cell, BMW focused on making the car light enough in its body to compensate for the extra weight that comes with fitting a battery pack to a car.

Fitted with a 22kWh lithium ion battery pack and a 125kW electric motor, the i3 offers peak torque of 250Nm and can sprint to 27mph in just 3.7 seconds, and up to 62mph in 7.2 seconds, half the time it takes a Nissan LEAF to reach motorway speeds.

There is a range of between 80–100 miles in everyday driving with can be extended by approximately 15 percent using the ECO PRO mode and by the same again in ECO PRO+ mode.

There is also an option to buy the i3 with a ‘range extending’ engine to support the electric drivetrain. This 650cc tow–cylinder petrol engine, develops 34hp and can extend the car’s range to around 180 miles on one tank of fuel. Choosing this option, prices start from £28,830 (again after a £5,000 grant).

Both BMW i3 models includes a three year, unlimited mileage vehicle warranty and an eight year, 100,000 mile battery warranty. The battery is also included in the price of the car.

Three trims are available: Standard, Loft, Lodge and Suit. All trims feature sustainable materials such as sustainability sourced wood, natural fibres and naturally tanned leather.

With business expected to take a particular interest n the i3, lured by low running costs and no company car tax to pay, BMW expects that the majority of customers will choose to lease their i3. As such a carmaker is offering its first electric car from £369p/m for a 36month contract and rising to £480p/m for an i3 Range Extender in the top range Suite trim.