In a recent press release from BMW, the automaker tells of the 40 years of development in electric mobility. Starting with the BMW 1602 and ending with the release of the BMW i3 in late 2013, BMW has launched a series of research and development project in order to bring an improved and more efficient technology to electric drive systems that it can deploy in mass produced vehicles.

When the first production version of the BMW i3 rolls off the assembly line in Leipzig in late 2013, it will mark the provisional culmination of 40 years of development work at BMW. It all began at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, where the BMW starting line-up included two electrically powered test vehicles. The converted BMW 1602 models served as a means of transport for the members of the organising committee, and were also deployed as support and camera cars in various long-distance events. However, there could be no questioning that lead batteries weighing 350 kilograms and with a range of around 60 kilometres (37 miles) were hardly ideal for a production car. BMW therefore launched a series of research and development projects with the aim of bringing an improved and, above all, more efficient technology for electric drive systems onto the road.

 Here are some fun specifications of some of BMW’s electric vehicles over the years

Click here to read the full PDF report on BMW’s Electric Mobility Heritage