What about the i3’s charging? 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.
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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.
Real-World Range: 165 to 360 km
a description of the real-world range in several contexts. Cold weather: “worst-case” depending on use of heating and a temperature of –10°C. Mild weather: “best-case” based on a 23°C temperature with no A/C use. A constant speed of 110 km/h is assumed for “Highway” numbers. The actual range will be influenced by driving style, speed, weather, and road conditions.
Economy and emissions of the BMW i3
Thus, each of the aforementioned observations is pertinent to each of the i3 models. Whether the new BMW i3 94Ah – with Range Extender in the case of our test car – has enough extra driving range to make it feasible for more people is what we’re really interested in here. The answer also demonstrates the need for testing vehicles like this for at least a week.
Although we don’t know who owned our automobile before us, we can only imagine that they used it for drag racing, racing, or rallies. When it came, the range displays (based on prior driving behavior) showed that the electric range was 69 miles and the gasoline range was 39 miles, for a total predicted range of 108 miles. Even taking into account that it was really chilly outside, this was obviously very disappointing. However, throughout the course of the week, the expected ranges increased gradually, reaching 83 miles for gasoline and 111 miles for electricity by the conclusion of the week, for a combined predicted range of 194 miles. Additionally, the actual range encountered while driving closely matched the expected range.
Our real-life anticipated range at the conclusion of our week exactly matched that of BMW, which is interesting because BMW advertises a “real-world driving range” of up to 194 miles with a fully charged battery and one tank of fuel.
BMW claims that the fully electric i3 can travel up to 125 miles in actual driving situations under typical conditions. For our particular driving habits, we would always choose the Range Extender. However, the fully electric i3 would be excellent for folks who only ever travel less than 125 miles between charges, with the occasional longer trip where public charging may be utilised.
The i3 comes with two charging cables: a 10 amp domestic use connection that can be directly plugged into a standard 13 amp household outlet, and an optional 32 amp AC Fast Charge cable that can be used at public charging stations.
The car will charge from empty using the AC Fast Charge connection in about 4-5 hours. The car may be fully charged using a regular charging cable (with a three-pin connection) in about 10 to 12 hours.
All BMW i3 vehicles come equipped as standard with DC quick charge preparation, which enables the i3 to charge from a combination charging system (CCS) charge point to 80% in as little as 40 minutes after starting from zero. Each DC quick charge station has a set of tethered cables for charging.
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.
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.
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. With the aid of a backup combustion engine and an optional range extender, the i3a’s overall driving range can be increased to 200 miles. A
In order to increase all-electric car research and manufacturing, BMW introduced the BMW I brand in 2011. The sub-first brand’s entirely electric vehicle, the BMW i3, debuted for the 2014 model year. This first EV was retired in 2021, but it prepared the way for other models like the 2022 i4, 2022 iX, and the much awaited 2023 i7, which were all new and improved. A A
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.
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.
What is the BMW i3’s charging speed?
The BMW i3 can accept up to 50 kW of power, and BMW believes that using a 50 kW or higher DC fast charger will reduce the recharge time to 40 minutes.
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.