If you’re a BMW->ke178 owner who is truly trying to reduce their impact on the world around them, the new i3->ke4694 and i8->ke4622 make great choices. These green cars->ke3234 promise BMW dynamics with a much friendlier CO2 output and impressive fuel economy.

Of course, what happens when your neighbor also buys a new BMW i8, and you are no longer the coolest eco-kid on the street? You snag one of these new solar carports from the minds at BMW DesignworksUSA.

Like everything that comes from the minds at DesignworksUSA, the carport is stunning to look at and features a unique styling aesthetic that is open, industrial and modern. In keeping with the theme of reducing the owner’s impact on the world around them, much of the structure is made from bamboo. As a quickly growing and dense wood, bamboo makes a great renewable building resource.

Did I mention that it looks awesome? Like a solar-powered cyber spider awesome?

Click past the jump to read more about the BMW i8 and the Solar Carport Concept.

Why It Matters

If this ever goes on sale, most buyers will be snagging it purely for the image it portrays to others, but in actuality, it makes the perfect addition to the BMW i Series. While the cars may use electric motors and therefore use less gasoline, the simple fact is that most of the energy in the U.S. is still made by burning coal. Having a self-contained solar power unit, like this solar carport, and the BMW i Wallbox is the only way to really reduce your carbon footprint.

As a bonus, if you manage to produce more electricity than the car can use, you can pump it back into your home for use there.

We are slowly making our way to a future that is far less dependent on fossil fuels, and self contained solar units are a great way to further that goal.

BMW i8

The wildly styled BMW i8 carries a 1.5-liter, three-cylinder engine that pumps out 231 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque. This engine mated to an electric motor that injects an extra 131 horses and 184 pound-feet of twist. This gives the i8 a total of 362 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque that it uses to zip to 60 mph in around 4.2 seconds.