BMW’s i8 electric vehicle gets its own eco-friendly carport

BMW’s first electric vehicles are rolling out in the US, but do you really want to store your prized ride in a crusty old garage? The company’s DesignWorks studio doesn’t think so, which is why it’s cooked-up this solar carport that could power your vehicle between trips around town. The concept structure itself boasts some serious eco-credentials, with struts made out of bamboo and transparent solar panels that promise to last up to 30 years. 

BMW Group DesignworksUSA has designed a solar carport to house the new i3 and forthcoming i8 electric vehicles. BMW is revealing the one-car solar garage concept as part of the official media launch of the i8 in Los Angeles. The concept follows previous efforts from the German automotive giant to power its “i” sub-brand using renewable energy. It last year unveiled a similar carport system conceived in partnership with the photovoltaic firm SOLARWATT GmbH. The latest design features an insect-like frame that makes extensive use of bamboo and like the SOLARWATT system, it features glass-on-glass solar modules on its rooftop.