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.
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Additional Highway Range Test Findings
As always, we make every effort to exert as much control over the test’s variables as we can. Prior to each drive, the tires are always inflated to the manufacturer’s specifications. BMW suggests 39 psi for the front tires in this situation and 44 psi for the bigger rear tires.
At the beginning, it was 87 F (30 C) and by the time we were done, it was a humid 95 F (35 C). The fan speed was set to 1, which is the lowest level, and the air conditioning was on the entire drive with the temperature set at 70 degrees. We were driving in the Comfort drive setting with a mild wind of 4–5 mph.
The 2019 and 2020 BEV i3s have an EPA range rating of 153 miles. It’s odd because, according to a 2018 listing from BMW, the i3s has a shorter range than the i3 in general. The i3s’ range rating was 7 miles shorter, at 107 miles, than the 2018 BEV i3, which had an EPA-rated range of 114 miles.
But when BMW unveiled a new, larger battery pack in 2019 with a capacity of 44.2 kWh, they claimed that the i3 BEV and the i3s BEV had the same EPA-rated range of 153 miles. We anticipate that the range will be slightly lower than in 2018, as was the case with the i3s, given that it has wider tires and greater power than the standard i3.
When the test was over, the i3s had a range of 139.5 miles and was still 1% charged. Therefore, we think it’s OK to tack on 1.5 miles and declare this one to be 141 miles. The i3’s usable battery capacity is around 39.2 kWh (39.2 x 3.6 = 141). As a result, the average efficiency was 3.6 mi/kWh (17.2 kWh/100 km), which adds up.
I expected to finish with a little better consumption rate of 3.7 mi/kWh and reach closer to 150 miles because I’ve previously owned two i3s (a 2014 i3 REx and a 2018 i3s BEV), but that wasn’t to be. I never tested my cars’ continuous 70 mph range from 100% to 0%, though, and doing so is different from driving 40 or 50 miles at a fixed speed.
To truly obtain the complete average consumption rating, you must decrease from 100% to zero, or a value extremely near to zero. In many of my highway range tests, I’ve seen that the vehicle’s consumption rating is lower during the first half of the drive but then increases by one or two tenths in the second half.
In relation to the highway range tests:
We like to point out how imperfect these range testing are on a regular basis. Things like wind, traffic, topography, and weather are outside of our control. We nevertheless try to exert as much control as we can. We do these 70 mph range tests to add another data point for prospective clients who are seeking as much information as they can on the driving range. Check out the automobiles listed below that we tested for their 70 mph highway range in the past:
Did the outcomes match your expectations, roughly? Additionally, we’d like to know what readers think of our tests of the 70 mph range. Do you have a favorite EV you’d like us to range test next? Comment below with your thoughts and let us know.
Information about the BMW I3
When it was first introduced, the compact electric car from the Bavarian automaker had a rather small 33kWh battery that, according to the EPA, offers 114 miles of driving range. The town benefits, but practically everything else suffers. Naturally, BMW made an effort to counter that with the REx model, which used a gasoline engine to give the batteries extra power. Range, though, was obviously set too low.
Therefore, a German energy storage startup called Lion Smart just unveiled their own battery pack for the i3 in order to demonstrate the capabilities of this modular platform. This “Light Battery” pack concept, which is still in development, employs a modular architecture intended to lower costs and enhance safety. But for the BMW i3, that means the German company stuffed a 100kWh high-density battery pack inside the vehicle. This results in a range of around 435 miles.
This is a remarkable improvement over the OEM range offered by the vehicle, however it’s still unclear whether it is based on the NEDC or WLTP cycle, or the company’s own internal testing. That same range is also what BMW anticipates for their own iNext EV, which will make its debut in 2022, making the situation even more enticing. Actually, it appears that BMW, along with other German automakers, developed cutting-edge modular technology for its new vehicles. They fall short, though, in the battery sectors.
In the video below, you can find out all about the BMW i3 they utilized and the Lion Light battery technology. This battery pack was created using some outstanding engineering and design concepts, enabling it to be entirely adjustable in terms of capacity, voltage, and physical dimensions.
Battery Life, Charging, and Range
The Bolt EV’s 60.0-kWh battery and its EPA rating of 259 miles dwarf the i3’s 42.2-kWh battery pack’s 153-mile all-electric driving range rating. Similar to the Model 3, the Model 3 has a maximum range of 353 miles on its largest battery. However, only the i3 features a range-extension generator that starts when the battery’s charge drops below 5 percent and is powered by gasoline.
Range of the i3 – Explanation
Your i3’s range may occasionally appear to be lower than the predicted value after completely charging. You see 65 miles (BEV model) as opposed to 85–100 miles. So what is happening?
Based on your driving history, the settings in your car, and its computer, your range is predicted. Additionally, it’s possible that your previous driving experience—perhaps with an icy or misted windscreen at the start—will have an impact on the range you’ve calculated for your upcoming trip. Hilly terrain increases battery drain as the car climbs; windy conditions, even if very marginally, require more electrical energy to drive through a headwind, and all that extra energy has to come from someplace. Nighttime and rainy weather also require headlights and wipers.
You’ll need to re-train the range-o-meter to start giving you a greater mileage if you’re only getting 65 miles of range on a full charge. It will be necessary to make a few driving style adjustments and make a few menu adjustments, which should change your anticipated range over a few days or recharges.
A larger battery has increased the range of the 2019 BMW i3 to 153 miles.
The 2019 BMW i3 will have a range of roughly 153 miles thanks to an improved battery and numerous other upgrades. That is about a 30% improvement over the prior model.
The increase in range is notable, but it still falls short of the Chevy Bolt and the Model S, Model X, and Model 3 cars from Tesla. And it just slightly outperforms the significantly less expensive Nissan Leaf.
The end result: It’s a consistent improvement that shows some ongoing interest in and investment in the i3 brand. Will that be sufficient to keep this city car in the mix, though?
The BMW i3 has a 22.6 kilowatt-hour battery pack with 60 ampere hours (Ah) cells when it initially entered production in 2013. EPA estimates that the original i3 had a range of 81 miles. The second-generation battery from the company was released in 2016 and increased to 33 kwh of gross energy (94 amp hours), with an EPA cycle range of around 115 miles.
With 120 Ah batteries in a 42.2 kWh battery pack, the 2019 model can now go around 153 miles on a single charge, according to BMW.
Both the i3 and the i3s will be able to use the improved battery. There was no price given. The base model of the previous i3 is priced at around $45,000.
The new 2019 vehicles, which will go into production this November, have the same amount of power. A 170-horsepower electric motor in the base i3 allows it to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 7.2 seconds. The 181-horsepower powertrain in the sportier i3s will let it to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.8 seconds.
Along with these updates, the carmaker is also giving the i3 a new exterior shade called Jucaro Beige metallic and adaptive LED headlights with auto-high beams. The exterior paint colors Fluid Black, Mineral Grey Metallic, Imperial Blue Metallic, and Melbourne Red Metallic are still accessible.
The BMW i3 and BMW i3s will also come with wireless charging and a Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices, according to the manufacturer.
Customers will also have additional options for the sports package, which will have 20-inch light alloy wheels, black wheel arch surrounds, a suspension with unique dampers, springs, and stabilizers, a lowered suspension, and a widened track.
How far can a BMW i3 travel?
For both of its variants, the 2021 BMW i3 has an all-electric driving range of 153 miles. But with the aid of a backup combustion engine, an optional range extender may boost the i3’s overall driving range to 200 miles.
How far can a BMW i3 travel?
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. 114 miles were allowed for the model year.
Is BMW phasing out the i3?
To keep your lithium battery as healthy and powerful as possible, strive to keep it between 20% and 80%. The battery infrastructure in your i3 is put under a lot of stress and heat when you charge it to 100% repeatedly. only fully charge before a lengthy trip
BMW i3 is either electric or hybrid.
Then, in June 2021, it was made public that BMW intended to stop selling the i3 in the US as early as July 2022, which is the current confirmed end-of-production date for the model. Nomenclature-wise, the end of the i3 is also intriguing: China will introduce an all-electric BMW 3 Series, which might be given the i3 moniker.
How much time does it take a BMW i3 to charge at home?
The BMW i3 is a BMW-made, high-roof, B-segment hatchback with an electric drivetrain that utilizes rear-wheel drive, a single-speed transmission, an underfloor lithium-ion battery pack, and an optional gasoline engine that can expand range.
How much does a BMW i3 battery replacement cost?
However, there are a few things you should note. Tesla’s high-speed superchargers can only be utilized by Tesla vehicles, despite there being charging stations for non-Tesla drivers. Consequently, it is not possible to use a Supercharger with a BMW electric vehicle using any of the available adapters.
Can I use a Tesla charging station to refuel my BMW i3?
Does the BMW i3 REx utilize gasoline then? The short response is no. It’s crucial to remember that the i3 REx still has an electric motor that propels the vehicle.
How durable are i3 batteries?
Cost of a replacement BMW i3 battery On eBay, a battery pack for a BMW i3 that had a capacity of 22 kWh at one point but is now only about 17.14 kWh is going for $2,500. This works out to about $145 per kWh. According to BMW, replacing an i3 battery would cost roughly $16,000 in 2016.