Cover Benjamin Swan charging BMW's i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence
Benjamin Swan charging BMW's i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence
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With sustainability and innovation in their minds, the BECO Ventures founder and BMW find synergies across innovation, design and positive impact on the road
Do you remember the time we used to navigate with a physical map? Before technology, drivers would have to not only pre-plan a route, but flip through a book with pages of road maps, bookmark it, literally, and vigilantly track every traffic light or turn to get to their destination. Today, the exact process of driving from one place to another is swift and seamless with the help of GPS built into sophisticated high-tech in-car entertainment systems. In the case of BMW’s i7 series sedans, guided navigation is flashed on a 14.9-inch Curved Display that extends across the entire cockpit.
For Benjamin Swan, transforming traditional experiences with technology, too, is exactly what drives him. His company, BECO Ventures’ mission alone encapsulates this: “Creating a better way”. Swan’s latest venture after the success of Sustenir, BECO is an agriculture tech-focused company that seeks to disrupt the food value chain by providing innovative farming solutions for small to medium farms, to develop and optimise their everyday processes to achieve greater yield, efficiency and profitability. Also helping traditional farmers and agriculture-related businesses create more positive impact, Swan and BECO equip farms with integrated hardware and software to receive and trade carbon credits from selling produce locally, creating a sustainable food value chain while reducing food waste and carbon caused by extensive logistics and deforestation.
“In order to transition to a more sustainable farming ecosystem, the industry must embrace a digital, connectivity-fuelled transformation in order to overcome increasing demands in food production and the environmental disruptive forces faced from global warming. With the recent advancements in the field of big data, cloud computing, and the internet of things, BECO’s approach to solving the current and future agricultural challenges is by looking at farming practices holistically through an integrated platform”, he affirms.
In conjunction with the recent arrival of BMW’s first fully electric i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence to Singapore, we thought it would be apt to take it for a luxurious spin with Swan.
Read more: Trina Liang-Lin and BMW on driving change with passion and purpose
Above Benjamin Swan and BMW's i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence
Benjamin Swan and BMW's i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence
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A stellar example of intelligent engineering, state-of-the-art technology and earth-conscious goals, the i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence boasts a fully electric drive concept that’s just as powerful as it is silent. Almost like gliding on air, the BMW stalwart takes to the road with 400kW of output, up to 745 Mn torque for maximum dynamic acceleration—all without the harmful exhaust fumes or petrol burn that traditional cars have. The i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence is free of local emissions thanks to BMW’s innovative propulsion concept, which takes the car from zero to 100km per hour in 4.7 seconds.
This battery-powered electric vehicle houses approximately 625km of electric range for your daily drive, with a low, ultra-efficient consumption of 19.6-18.4kWh/100km with the help of technologies such as recuperation during braking. And, eventhough the i7 looks and offers the size and space that luxury car aficionados will appreciate, its lightweight construction methods and aerodynamic design contributes to the maximum efficiency of its drive and environmental impact. Materials wise, the motor of the new BMW i7 manages entirely without rare earths; and raw materials such as cobalt and lithium used in the high-voltage battery originate from responsible mining.
See also: Earth Calling: How the quest for good salad led Benjamin Swan to launch an urban farming company
Above The BECO Venture's office
The BECO Venture's office
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One of the top questions electric vehicle drivers or keen ones ask is about charging. Plugging in for an hour and 38 minutes at home-charging stations will get you a driving range of 100km, while six minutes at a high-power charging station with maximum vehicle charging capacity will get you the same 100km driving range. The BMW Public Charging package offers BMW drivers in Singapore free charges for the first three years (capped at 10,000 kWh with no monthly limit).
Besides the high-tech hardware of the car, the i7 xDrive60 Pure Excellence cocoons the driver and passengers in absolute comfort that’s intuitive and luxurious too. Think ergonomically designed Executive Lounge Seating with extra spacious leg room in the back seat, 5.5-inch touchscreens integrated on the rear doors to conveniently operate the Infotainment system, car ambience, airconditioning and more, and a Bowers & Wilkins Diamond surround sound system for a 4D audio experience. Recycled materials have also been used in different interior elements, including plastic thread Econyl for the floor panelling. All this comes crowned with the Sky Lounge panoramic glass sunroof that brings the interiors to life either with all that natural light, or the dynamic light effects that create an unparalleled driving experience at night.
Above The signature BMW design elements of twin circular headlights and extra-large kidney grille
The signature BMW design elements of twin circular headlights and extra-large kidney grille
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“As our energy sources improve across the globe through the adoption of renewable energies, the electric vehicle industry is paving the way for change, with BMW leading the charge towards a more sustainable future that’s not only revolutionary, but necessary,” Swan enthuses.
“These advancements in battery technology and componentry have the potential to transform not only the automotive sector but also other industries like agritech. With cutting-edge innovations in energy storage and efficiency, the possibilities for collaboration and synergy are endless. Imagine the impact we could create by partnering with the EV industry to revolutionise the way we approach sustainability and efficiency in agriculture. The future is bright and full of exciting possibilities!”
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