Does BMW's Electric Car Really Matter?

The BMW i3, launched earlier this week, is the German automaker's first all-electric car. Photo credit: BMW

BMW (BAMXF 3.93%) just launched its first electric car this month, the i3, with a series of star-studded events around the world. The car has generated breathless headlines -- but is it really all that special? Or put another way, is it really likely to do any better than all of the other slow-selling electric cars on the market?

In this video, Fool.com contributor John Rosevear takes a hard look at BMW's new electric ride -- and at why it may not be able to get the kind of market traction that Tesla Motors (TSLA 4.96%) has with its hot Model S sedan.

Electric cars like the BMW i3 are just one response to rising energy prices -- and for investors, they may not hold a lot of promise. If you'd like some more promising ways to profit from the increasing cost of energy, check out The Motley Fool's "3 Stocks for $100 Oil." For free access to this special report, simply click here now.