BMW's hotly anticipated i3 electric car will start at £25,680 on the road, putting it in the same price bracket as the market-leading Nissan LEAF, the German automaker confirmed.

 

The price includes a £5,000 plug-in grant, which the government has yet to confirm will apply to the four-person coupe when it goes on sale in the UK in November.

 

BMW has also said customers will be able to customise their i3s, which includes an option to install a BMW i Wallbox charger at home. The chargers start at around £1,200, can refill the battery from empty to 80 per cent in three hours, and can be fuelled by green electricity, resulting in zero-emissions driving.

 

The i3 offers a range of 80-100 miles on a single charge, while using carbon fibre and reinforced plastics alongside a lightweight aluminium chassis and parts to trim weight and battery costs.

 

BMW created the discrete 'i' sub-brand to market electric vehicles and is counting on the i3 and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, due to hit dealerships early next year, to lend it an edge.

 

Meanwhile, arch-rival Mercedes is set to launch an electric version of its B-Class in spring 2014.