As part of an update for the 2017 model year, BMW is taking a cue from Tesla and giving the i3 electric car with a larger battery-pack option. A new option that costs $2050 raises the battery capacity to 33.2 kWh, providing an EPA-rated 114 miles of driving range on a full charge—33 miles more than the base model. The base BMW i3 still employs the same 21.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack as i3s from the past. BMW chose to potentially mislead customers by naming the available batteries based on their ampere-hour ratings, in contrast to Tesla, which follows the tradition of adding the energy capacity of its batteries, in kilowatt-hours, in the names of its automobiles. Despite the fact that 21.6 kWh and 33.2 kWh and 60 Ah and 94 Ah appear to be more impressive on paper, you will only hear us refer to the later pair.)
The i3 is available with a range extender, a tiny 647-cc inline-two-cylinder gasoline engine positioned directly front of the rear axle but with no connection to the driving wheels, much like in previous years. The 38-hp twin’s sole function is to drive a generator that, should the battery pack’s charge drop below a predetermined level, keeps it there. This range extender, which is now exclusive to the i3 equipped with the larger battery, raises the price by $3850 and increases the curb weight by around 270 pounds.
The i3s fitted with the range extender suffer from those extra pounds, since the EPA estimates that this model can only drive 97 miles on a single charge. However, the EPA estimates that the i3’s two-cylinder can travel a further 66 miles before needing to refill its tiny 2.4-gallon gasoline tank, giving it a net range of 180 miles. Compared to earlier models of the i3 equipped with the range extender, which had a smaller battery pack (21.6 kWh) and carried even less fuel, this model has a 30-mile improvement.
The i3 can travel further than previously because to the larger battery, but there are trade-offs. The 33.2-kWh pack weighs roughly 75 pounds more and requires more time to charge than the smaller battery, but it occupies the same amount of space. According to BMW, the 33.2 kWh battery pack needs four hours and thirty minutes to fully charge when using a 240-volt power supply, which is an hour more time than it claimed for the smaller battery. According to BMW, the i3 can be charged to 80% of its capacity using a 50-kilowatt DC fast-charging system in about 40 minutes, while the smaller pack only requires around 25 minutes.
The additional mass of the range extender also lowers overall efficiency. The original model gets 124 MPGe, while the range-extended variant gets 111 MPGe, according to the EPA, who rates the big-battery i3 at 118 MPGe combined. The latest model only achieves 35 mpg combined with the two-cylinder running. Over 497 miles of mixed driving, which included using the range extender, we obtained 79 MPGe.
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EPA’s range projections
The 2019 and 2020 i3 and i3s were given a 153-mile rating by the EPA. This represents an improvement over the 2018 i3 and i3s. The i3 and i3s were each given 114 and 107 miles, respectively, for that model year. For the 2019 model year, the vehicle received a new, larger battery pack with a 442 kWh capacity, extending its EPA-rated range.
Given that the i3s has larger tires and more power, InsideEVs expressed astonishment that the i3 and i3s had the same EPA-rated range. It anticipated that the i3s’s range would be less than the i3’s, not equal. The i3 is also available in range-extended models that add a gas engine to the electric one, bringing the combined range up to 200 miles.
What Is The Range Extender For The BMW i3?
With a 22 kWh (18.8 kWh useable) battery, the BMW i3 has an electric car range of 80 to 100 miles. By adjusting the accelerator pedal response, the ECO PRO mode can extend the range by 12%, and the ECO PRO+ mode can extend the range by up to 24% by lowering the top speed to 55 mph and switching the heating and cooling systems to their most energy-saving settings. Its 170 horsepower electric motor and 184 lb-ft of torque enable it to reach 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, go from 50 to 75 mph in 4.9 seconds, and reach a top speed of 93 mph despite weighing only 2799 pounds.
Small 2 cylinder, 0.647 liter (39.5 cubic inch), inline 4-valve per cylinder gasoline engine, the Range Extender generates 34 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque at 4300 revolutions per minute. The wheels are not connected to the gasoline engine, which is just used to recharge the batteries. You can go between 160 and 180 miles with the Range Extender. ECO PRO and ECO PRO+ both extend the range by 12% and 24%, respectively, similar to the all-electric model.
The weight of a BMW i3 fitted with a range extender is increased by 265 lbs, bringing the total weight of the vehicle to 3064 lbs. Although the highest speed stays the same, the additional weight somewhat reduces performance. (0.7 seconds slower than the all-electric version) The sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes 7.9 seconds, and the sprint from 50 to 75 mph takes 5.5 seconds.
Road-Tripping in a BMW i3 REx With a 1.9-Gallon Gas Tank and 72 Electric Miles
There are drivers who see an electric car’s short range as a drawback and those who see it as a challenge.
Only with the latter mindset would one BMW i3 owner consider to use a small gasoline range extender and a tiny fuel tank to go more than 400 miles in a vehicle with a 72-mile electric range.
The trip entailed largely highway driving, a climb in height of roughly 1,000 feet, and chilly weather to boot—the morning of the first leg, it was only 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even though the car had a full charge when it left New Jersey, the cold meant that the range extender only turned on after traveling 48 miles.
That necessitated three trips for gasoline, but the REx’s 1.9-gallon gas tank made them swift, taking only 2 minutes each.
Using the adaptive cruise control for optimal efficiency, Moloughney discovered that the range extender could comfortably sustain the battery’s state of charge at 70 mph.
The car’s electric range increased to 63 miles on the return trip, which was taken in warmer weather and along a different, shorter route.
This time, Moloughney stopped for gasoline four times, including one at the destination to top off the tank.
Given that, unlike, example, the Chevrolet Volt, the i3 REx range extender isn’t really supposed to transform the car into a long-distance cruiser, the electric BMW seems to have done admirably.
Using the 650-cc two-cylinder REx engine, which was developed for motorcycle uses, results in an EPA-rated maximum range of 150 miles from the battery and gasoline tank put together.
Although the i3 REx isn’t the best vehicle for long drives, it still has enough power for a passionate driver who is prepared to test the limits.
And that’s possibly the most ingenious aspect of BMW’s range extender’s basic design.
How far can a BMW i3 travel when using a range extender?
Increases driving enjoyment: The BMW i3’s optional Range Extender, which is situated next to the electric motor in the back of the vehicle, can extend the vehicle’s range in COMFORT Mode from up to 125 miles to a total of 205 miles. The BMW i3 can continue to operate only on electricity thanks to the compact, noiseless two-cylinder petrol engine that powers a generator that keeps the high-voltage battery’s charge level constant. When the battery level is low, the Range Extender automatically turns on.
What is the 2015 BMW i3’s range while using a range extender?
The i3’s 81-mile range on a full battery is comparable to the ranges of several competing EVs. However, the i3 features an optional two-cylinder gasoline engine that acts as a generator and charges the battery, expanding the vehicle’s overall range to up to 150 miles, according to BMW.
How far can a BMW i3 94Ah with Range Extender travel?
The BMW i3 and BMW i8 elevated the status of electric vehicles, and now the i3 is even more useful thanks to the BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender, which has a “real-life driving range” of 194 miles.
BMW stopped producing the i3 Range Extender when?
The rear-wheel-drive i3, the centerpiece of BMW’s electric vehicle program, was initially available with a single electric drivetrain or a range extender (REx) drivetrain, which combines a 647cc two-cylinder petrol motorcycle engine and an electric motor. It generated a maximum power of 168 horsepower in both instances and utilized a 22.2 kWh lithium ion battery.
The battery capacity was then increased in 2017 to 33.3kWh. The i3 S, a performance model with wider tracks and 181 horsepower, was added to the lineup that same year.
In October 2021, BMW said i3 production had topped 200,000 units. Officials anticipate that it will have sold more than 250,000 units by the time production ends in July 2022.
The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will ideally fulfill today’s customers who seek a fully electric city car that is tailored for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle. These vehicles will encourage more people to switch to all-electric driving.
“Therefore, the decision has been made to stop BMW i3 production from summer 2022,” reads the statement. “After a decade of establishing the standard in its class and paving the path for today’s generation of electric automobiles.”
How far can the BMW i3 actually travel?
According to BMW, the i3 variants have a range of between 177 and 193 miles, depending on the choices and equipment. In practical use, aim for 140–150 miles, averaging at least four miles per kWh. It’s a productive device.
On a 50kW fast charger, the 42.2kWh battery can be charged to 80% in 45 minutes. But it can’t take a charge any quicker than that.
The battery is charged by the BMW i3 Range Extender.
A little, quiet combustion engine called the Range extender burns unleaded gasoline. This serves as a generator, preserving the high-voltage battery’s charge so that the car can continue to run on electricity.
The i3 with the greatest range?
The BMW i3 with the most range? The BMW i3 and i3s with the optional Range Extender will have a 200-mile range, which is the longest range in the model’s history. This translates to a combustion engine range of 74 miles and an all-electric range of 126 miles.
Why did BMW stop producing the i3?
It is extremely heartbreaking to see BMW discontinue its little electric hatchback after nine years on the market given how great it was.
In 2011, as interest in electric vehicles increased, the BMW i3 was first unveiled as a concept car. The design was later evolved into a working model that was released for purchase in 2013 as a 2014 model. The BMW i3 has enjoyed considerable success since that time. The compact electric hatchback from BMW has sold over 250,000 units and was named the World Car Design and World Green Car of the Year winners at the 2014 World Car Awards.
Unfortunately, all wonderful things must eventually come to an end. BMW terminated the i3 in all markets in July 2022 after ceasing manufacturing for the US market in July 2021. The company cited consumer demand for larger-than-the-i3 electric automobiles as justification for the withdrawal. Another reason is that the manufacturer wants to move away from the i3’s distinctive appearance and produce electric vehicles with more traditional styling. The BMW i4 and BMW iX models are taking the place of the i3 as a result. We are sad to see the i3 depart, but there are other reasons as well.
The lifespan of the BMW i3 battery
Battery life for 2021 BMW i3s ranges from three to five years, although it might vary depending on factors including driving style, weather, battery type, and more. Keep your car indoors, away from sharp changes in temperature or climate, to extend the life of your i3 battery.