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 (1.9 gallons).
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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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.
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 BMW i3 had a unique architecture, unlike many hatchback-sized, all-electric vehicles that use the same underpinnings as their internal combustion counterparts. This contributed to the newly established electrified BMW I subdivision’s credibility in 2013, which was further strengthened by the plug-in hybrid i8 the following year.
In addition to demonstrating BMW’s commitment to the pure-electric industry, the i3’s platform also made it possible for it to acquire upgraded powertrains over the course of its lifecycle. It had an initial range of only 81 miles with a 22.6kWh battery pack (19kWh of which were serviceable). With a two-cylinder motorcycle engine from BMW Motorrad, the range-extender version of the i3 was available from the start and extended the vehicle’s range by 150 miles.
In 2017, BMW discontinued the range-extender variant and added a larger 33kWh battery to the pure-electric vehicle, extending the range to 114 miles. The facelifted BMW i3 was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show of the same year with revised front and rear bumpers, standard-fit LED headlights, and updated wheel arch trims. Range was increased to 187 miles, and a sportier i3s model with a more potent motor, lowered suspension, and a wider track joined the lineup. With the most recent version of the iDrive system integrated into the 10.25-inch screen on the dash, the inside of the i3 remained almost unaltered.
The range was increased to a maximum of 190 miles in 2019 thanks to the installation of a larger 42.2kWh battery pack.
BMW declared that it would stop producing the i3 in 2022. In June 2022, a few weeks after sales of the i3 reached over 250,000 units worldwide, the final one rolled off the production line in Leipzig, Germany.
Similar to the final 18 limited edition i8s in 2020, BMW commissioned 18 units of the i3 to celebrate the end of production. Each unit was painted in BMW’s Galvanic Gold Metallic.
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.
On a BMW i3, how do you turn on the range extender?
You can manually start the range extender with the iDrive if you want to save the electric charge for later in the journey. Press the MENU button, then, with the iDrive Controller, choose “Settings,” “Range Extender,” and then “Hold State of Charge.”
The BMW i3 with the most 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.
The battery is charged by the BMW i3 Range Extender.
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 (0.6 seconds slower).
What distinguishes the BMW i3 from the i3s?
The i3s features a more potent motor even if the i3 has a longer range.
A 135 kW electric motor in the BMW i3s produces 184 horsepower. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph.
The i3, however, features a 125 kW motor (170 bhp). It has a top speed of 93 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds.
Therefore, even though the BMW i3 costs more than the i3 and has a shorter range, it all boils down to performance. Better acceleration, a faster peak speed, and excellent handling are all provided.
The BMW i3 and i3s actually differ from one another in a few key ways. The more expensive, sportier i3s has stiffer suspension, larger wheels, and it sits lower to the ground. Additionally, there is a sport driving option that increases responsiveness compared to the conventional i3.
Why is BMW ending production of 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.
BMW i3 dependability
Is a pre-owned BMW i3 hatchback trustworthy? The i3 placed fourth out of nine electric vehicles in its class, receiving a score of 94.1% in our most recent dependability study. A solid achievement for BMW as a brand, placing 13th out of 30 manufacturers.
When does a BMW i3 require maintenance?
Compared to gasoline or diesel vehicles, the majority of electric vehicles require far less regular maintenance. For the Renault Zoe2, for instance, Renault recommends intervals of 18,000 miles as opposed to 9,000 miles for its petrol vehicles.
Like combustion-engined vehicles, Volkswagen electric vehicles, such as the ID.3 and ID.4, have a defined maintenance plan, with the first inspection necessary after two years. After that, a service is advised to be performed annually or every 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Hyundai’s petrol and hybrid vehicles have identical electric vehicle service plan intervals at 10,000-mile intervals in the first year, 20,000 miles in the second year, and so on, depending on which milestone is reached first. The service intervals for the BMW i3 are two years or 18,000 miles.
The fact that almost all auto manufacturers provide an electric vehicle service plan makes servicing an electric vehicle easier. Similar to a cell phone contract, they can be paid monthly or up front and give you access to a set list of features.
For three years and 30,000 miles, Renault’s Zoe electric car service plan costs PS299, compared to PS499 for a petrol or diesel car over the same time period.
Service contracts for Audi’s selection of E-tron models start at a one-time cost of PS299.25. This covers one servicing, one replacement of the pollen filter, and one brake fluid replacement. For a 2.0-liter combustion model, a service package costs PS449.25.
Vauxhall provides a core electric car service for the first year of ownership starting at PS90 and going up to PS239 with the addition of a cabin filter check. The three years of servicing that come with a new Vauxhall EV, however, should save you from having to pay anything.
The first, second, and third yearly services, two years of Vauxhall Roadside Assistance, and the first MOT are all included in a brand-new combustion Vauxhall service plan, which starts at PS19 per month for a three-year term.
Generally speaking, ‘wear and tear’ items like brake parts, tires, and windscreen wiper blades are not covered by service plans.
Additionally, you might be able to lower the expense of maintaining your EV. For instance, driving for extended periods of time with a battery charge of less than 20 percent can reduce battery life.
An EV battery typically comes with an eight-year warranty. The technical warranty for the automobile itself, which is often three, five, or seven years, is far shorter than this, which is reassuring.
While under warranty, an electric vehicle must be serviced by a franchised dealer. Once this has passed, though, you might discover that it is less expensive to take it to a separate garage for repairs. Finding a specialist qualified to perform maintenance can be more difficult because EV technology is still relatively new, but the good news is that it’s not insurmountable.