BMW, who are the official automotive partner for London 2012, believes the Games represent a unique opportunity to educate a huge global audience about the benefits of electric cars, What Car? reported.

The Megacity, which they announced in March 2009 they were planning to build, is due to go on sale to the public in 2013 and will be the first mass-produced electric car.

By using it at the Olympics and Paralympics, BMW hope to counteract criticism that they were chosen by London 2012 ahead of Nissan, who planned to use their LEAF electric hatch as the official vehicle.

BMW are expected to supply a fleet of up to 4,000 vehicles for the 2012 Games, half of which will probably be Megacitys.

As a sustainability partner of London 2012 BMW also have to meet a low carbon and healthy living challenges.

The Megacity is a four-seat, rear-engined, rear-wheel-drive car, which houses the batteries that power the 100Kw motor underneath the floor.

BMW plans that it will be bigger than a Mini, but smaller than a BMW 1 Series, and comparatively tall.

To make it lighter the Megacity will have a cabronfire cell, produced by SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers L.L.C., a joint venture between BMW and SGL Group, which will use hydropower to power the plant in Moses Lake, Washington that will manufacture carbon fibre parts for the Megacity.

BMW expects the car to have a range of between 100 and 130 miles.

It will also have a useable boot, and its flat floor could mean the car will have a flexible seating layout.

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