A Type 2 plug allows you to charge your BMW i3 at home, the office, or a public charging station. Additionally, a CCS port is present for quick charging.
In This Article...
Methods for charging a BMW i3
The CCS charging standard, which has a combination AC and DC intake port, is used by the BMW i3 line of electric vehicles. The Type 2 connector, which is used while charging at home or at public slow and fast AC ports, fits into the top portion of the inlet. High power is transported via the upper and lower regions of the intake during rapid DC charging. The CCS charging inlet for the BMW i3 is located where you may anticipate seeing a gas flap on the off-side rear 3/4 panel.
Depending on the network and kind of charge unit, the BMW i3 can be charged at public points in a slow, fast, or quick manner. Fast charging often requires a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, whereas slow charging typically calls for a 3-pin-to-Type 2. One of these cables is typically included with the vehicle. The vehicle employs a tethered CCS connector, which is a component of the charging unit, for quick charging.
When charging on AC or DC, the EV driver must insert the connections into the proper input. The car then communicates with the charging unit to verify that there is power available, that there are no problems, and that it is safe to begin charging. The vehicle then begins charging automatically if charging at a private home or business charge point.
An activation procedure is needed to start charging on a public charger. Depending on the network provider, this can call for the usage of an RFID card or smartphone app, frequently connected to a previously created account. On more recent devices, contactless pay-as-you-go units are also becoming increasingly prevalent. The devices will do additional connection and account checks after activation before they begin to charge the car.
Factors that Affect the BMW i3’s Level 2 Charging Speed
- Maximum power produced by the charger: Each charger has a 240V circuit that allows it to draw a specific quantity of electrical current. More power and current equate to a quicker charging. Most level 2 chargers provide the i3 with 3.3 to 10 kW of electricity.
- Your i3’s maximum power intake is: A Level 2 charger can deliver up to 7.7 kW of charging power to the 2017 BMW i3. An empty i3 can be recharged with that power in 4.5 hours. Enough quickly to recharge every night.
Charging Times For Different BMW i3 Generations
Let’s now examine the following possibilities for charging an i3. Let’s begin by charging with the 120v AC circuit (BMW classifies this as a Level 1 charger). The most frequent method for recharging a vehicle is a 40 amp 240 volt AC wall box (Level 2 charger). In order to account for resistance, we also need to lower the charging rate in kWh by about 30%.
- 2015–2017 BMW i3 – From an empty state, the battery pack can take between 13 and 16 hours to fully charge.
- BMW i3 from 2017 to 2018: Expect a 16 to 19-hour charge time
- The 2019 BMW i3 will take 24 to 28 hours to fully charge.
- It will take roughly four to five hours to recharge a battery pack that hasn’t been entirely depleted in a 2015–2017 BMW i3.
- For a 33 kWh battery pack, the time is only up to five to six hours in the 2017–2018 BMW i3.
- The 44.2 kWh battery pack in the 2019 BMW i3 will need seven to eight hours to fully recharge.
These are, of course, based on depleted batteries at the beginning of the charging procedure.
- 2018 BMW i3: A 33 kWh battery pack can be recharged in under one hour.
- 2019 BMW i3: A 44 kWh battery pack requires around an hour and a half to fully recharge.
Charging times also depend on additional elements, such as:
- If the battery is cold, a DC fast charger will charge it much more slowly.
- the level of battery charge
Naturally, your results may/will differ. To finish where we began, though, go to your owner’s manual for details.
We’ve owned a total of five BMW i3s since 2017 between our team members. We had to build a few Level 2 stations in our homes and implicitly review a few of them, of course. Before deciding on a Level 2 station from ClipperCreek, we tested the Bosch, ChargePoint, and other brands.
They provide a selection of Level 2 charging units, including the more economical HCS-40P and the dual-charging HCS-40D.
Practical Advice
First tip: If you’re going to a friend’s or family member’s house to charge your car and they’re gracious enough to let you, bring an extension reel so you can plug in your 3pin charger wire comfortably. Keep in mind that a 13amp plug can take 6–8 hours to completely charge a device.
Can I use a Tesla supercharger to charge my BMW i3?
With a pilot project in the Netherlands, Tesla, one of the most prestigious automakers in the world, opened its charging network to other electric vehicles. The business declared that non-Tesla vehicle owners would be able to access superchargers at ten different locations throughout the Netherlands via the Tesla app. This indicates that you can use a Tesla charging station to charge your non-Tesla EV. There are a few things you should keep in mind, though.
Tesla’s high-speed superchargers can only be utilized by Tesla vehicles, despite there being charging stations for non-Tesla drivers. Therefore, it is not possible to utilize a Supercharger with a BMW electric vehicle because to the lack of suitable adapters. The truth is that Tesla has thought about allowing other electric vehicles access to its Supercharger network. However, nothing has been officially confirmed by the company, so these are still just rumors.
Tesla’s automobiles need various connectors because European charging standards are different from American ones. Due to the fact that not all Tesla vehicles sold in Europe utilize Tesla’s specialized connector, the charging process is very different from that of other markets, like as North America.
Tesla uses the CCS standard in Europe so that a variety of vehicles can charge at locations without an adapter with a similar plug. Tesla claims that non-Tesla drivers using its charging stations could result in the business spending more money to support a variety of vehicles and make site modifications to accommodate these vehicles. This, it claims, advances Tesla’s objective of accelerating the global switch to sustainable energy.
As rival automakers seek to launch new electric vehicles, Tesla has more than 25,000 Superchargers installed across the world while they have formed alliances or invested in network firms. The Combined Charging System (CCS), which is utilized by BMW, Daimler, Ford, and the Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi and Porsche, allows for the usage of the Superchargers.
Do I need to charge my BMW i3 at night?
The process of charging your electric BMW before a day of use is similar to that of your cell phone.
How much charging you’ll need depends depend on how many miles you drive each day. Unless you must rely on your car’s whole driving range, there is no need to charge the battery to 100% every night. You should have adequate driving miles if you keep your battery capacity between 20% and 80%.
Keep your electric BMW’s battery between 20% and 80% charged whenever you aren’t using it for a week or more.
Remember that the frequency and duration of charging your electric BMW will vary depending on your daily driving requirements and the type of home charging option you have. Whether you decide to fully charge your electric BMW every night may also depend on whether you have easy access to office charging.
How much time does it take a BMW i3 to charge at home?
At home, a 3-pin plug can take 11–12 hours to charge. It may take 4 hours to charge a Wallbox Plus. Depending on the type of connection, DC charging at gas stations might take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
How far can a BMW i3 travel on a single charge?
Range i3 and MPGe The i3 lithium-ion batteries have ranges between 80 and 180 miles on a full charge and have been as small as 22 kWh and as large as 42 kWh.
How much power is needed to charge a BMW 330e?
The BMW 330e’s approximate charging times are shown in the table below. Times assume a full charge.
Keep in mind that the times are simply estimates because EVs hardly ever need to be fully charged from 0%. Ambient temperature, in-vehicle energy demands, any upper and lower charge restrictions to prolong battery life and safeguard against potential damage, and charging rates lowering when the maximum charge is reached are other variables that may affect the charging time.
For AC charging, the BMW 330e is equipped with a 3.7 kW on-board charger. This indicates that the BMW 330e can only charge at 3.7 kW even when attached to a fast charger with a rated output higher than 3.7 kW.
What is the cost of operating a BMW i3?
The i3’s internal charger is only about 85% efficient, thus it takes about 22 kWh to fully charge its 18.8 kWh usable capacity. Assuming $0.2088/kWh, your cost would be around $4.59.
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.
How much does a BMW i3 battery replacement cost?
- 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. A
- According to a 2016 BMW study, a new i3 battery would cost roughly $16,000. This was for the 22 kWh packs used in the 2013–2016 model years, which came out to $727 per kWh in actual 2016 currency. A
- According to a 2015 InsideEV study, a 21.6 kWh battery pack would cost $13,725 or $635 per kWh. These costs were computed using data from an internet parts retailer. A
BMW i3 is either electric or hybrid.
Both vehicles have an electric motor, although the i3’s motor has 168 horsepower while the i3s’ has 181. The i3 with Range Extender (REX) and the i3s with Range Extender are two additional trims offered by BMW. The BMW i3 REX models are plug-in hybrids rather than pure electric vehicles because they combine an electric motor with a gasoline engine.
Can you only use gas to power an 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 long does a battery for a BMW i3 last?
The typical battery life of a 2021 BMW i3 is three to five years, however this might vary depending on factors including driving style, weather, battery type, and more.
A BMW i3 will it rust?
Your bolts, nuts, rotors, calipers, springs, and every other metal component on your BMW i3 will ultimately rust out. You shouldn’t be concerned about the automobile as long as there is no surface rust on the plastic, carbon fiber, and glass components.
When an electric vehicle is charging, can you sit inside?
You can sit in an electric vehicle just like you would when filling up with gas. Since EVs are carefully built to ensure user safety, there is little chance of electrocution when seated inside one while it is charging. With the support of Gear and Cylinder, electric vehicles are made to safely transfer high voltage and a high current to the battery. However, it can be dangerous to remain inside your car while charging for some specific EVs.