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BMW i3 ($42,275)

With a range of up to 100 miles from its lithium-ion battery pack, the BMW i3 is a lot like other electric vehicles. What's innovative is the way it's built: A passenger cell made from carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic means a curb weight of around 2800 pounds—light for any kind of car. And by reexamining the production process all the way down to the raw materials, BMW found a way to offer a car made from exotic materials for a little over $40,000. Affordable, mass-produced carbon fiber has the potential to make every vehicle safer and more fun to drive. The i3 goes on sale in Europe late this year and will be available stateside in spring 2014.



