The upcoming BMW i3 EV may not look like all that much from its exterior appearance, but the automaker apparently has plans to charge a pretty penny for it nonetheless. According to Automotive News, the five-door i3 will be priced at around $40,000. For the same money, one could instead drive home a well-equipped 3 Series sedan. That amount will likely be reduced by $7,500 in federal tax credits but even then the final price still sounds quite high. To compare, the base Nissan Leaf will cost just over $21k after the tax credit.

Point being: consumers will be asked to pay just over $10k more for an EV with carbon-fiber construction and BMW badges. Granted, the i3 is expected to have a 99-mile range while the updated 2013 Leaf can achieve up to 84 miles on a full charge. But is an (estimated) additional 15 mile range worth the price difference? BMW is apparently aware of the pitfalls of owning an EV and it has a potential solution. The automaker's North American CEO, Ludwig Willisch, states that i3 owners will be a part of a program that allows them to borrow a gas or diesel-powered car for longer trips. Call it an "additional mobility package," according to Willisch.