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.
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Ask Us Anything: Can the BMW i3 be fuel-powered?
The operation of the range extender in the BMW i3 is one of the most frequently asked questions. Some readers have inquired as to whether the BMW i3 REx uses gas when the battery is running low. Please give us a moment to explain the Range Extender mechanism before we respond to your query properly. There have been concerns since since BMW’s Financial Officer Frederick Eichinerto indicated in early February 2011 that the i3 would have an optional gasoline powerplant to increase the vehicle’s range.
There is no other REx like the one on the i3 that is currently being offered. No other automaker has ever offered a range extender as an optional feature on an electric vehicle, giving customers the freedom to select the model that best meets their individual driving requirements (BEV or extended range PHEV). BMW made the vehicle’s range extender as compact, effective, and light as they could.
According to BMW, the range extender is an APU (auxiliary power unit), and its main purpose is to increase the vehicle’s range so that the driver may go safely home or to the next charging station without being concerned about being stranded due to a low battery. A 0.6-liter engine from the BMW C600 scooter and a 2.4-gallon gasoline tank are added to the REx in the BMW i3 to supplement its battery pack. Compared to the engine of the same displacement in the BMW scooter, the 647cc engine installed in the i3 REx is tuned differently. The REx engine, which is mounted between the rear wheels, produces 38 horsepower and 41 lb-ft (55 Nm) of torque at 4,300 RPM.
In order for the i3 REx to be eligible for incentives, the fuel tank was limited to 1.9 gallons in the US. Depending on the driving mode, the Range Extender might increase the range by 40 to 80 miles. Due to the newer models’ larger batteries, the European i3s discontinued the REx option in 2018, although the US-bound electric BMWs kept it. The Range Extender adds 265 lbs to the overall weight of BMW i3 vehicles.
Finding a gasoline filler door on the passenger front fender is the quickest way to identify an i3 REx. The pure electric range and the gasoline range are displayed on the instrument panel of the i3 when the driver is seated. If you pay close attention, you can see the Vehicle Emission Control Information on the DOT tag on the rear hatch, which lists gasoline on the i3 REx and indicates the presence of the OBD: II rather than an OBD: N/A – not applicable next to the i3 BEV version.
How electric is a BMW i3 Range Extender?
Thanks to its larger battery and increased range, the BMW i3 is a more alluring option than ever. The REx model outperforms the pure EV version, which will only cost pennies to operate. The i3 has a truly useable electric-only range, allowing you to potentially avoid using the petrol engine at all, in contrast to conventional plug-in competitors like the VW Golf GTE. Additional equipment like DC charging should also make it easier to live with.
Considering buying an electric vehicle is becoming more and more popular as a result of stricter emissions laws. However, range anxiety still exists, with many people afraid of simply running out of power.
BMW believes it has the solution. The i3’s all-electric range has nearly quadrupled thanks to the engineers’ installation of a denser 94Ah battery pack. The BMW i3 can now travel up to 195 miles, making it more than adequate for the typical daily commute.
But what if that is insufficient? What if the idea of being stranded at a service station along a highway without access to a plug still gives you the willies? Fortunately, managers decided to include the larger battery in the Range Extender model as well.
The problem is that it hasn’t grown at all. The new model is just slightly heavier than the outgoing vehicle since the 94Ah battery fits into the same space as the old unit. According to BMW, the vehicle can go 288 miles on a single charge and full tank of fuel, charging in about 40 minutes from empty to 80% full.
How long can a BMW i3 extender be used?
The BMW i3 and i3s with the optional Range Extender will have a 200-mile range in 2019, 2020, and 2021, which is the longest range in the model’s history. This translates into a 126-mile all-electric range and a 74-mile combustion engine range. The 153-mile all-electric range of these models’ i3 and i3s is the longest.
BMW behind practically all other automakers with a 2.5/5.0 RepairPal reliability rating. This is because unscheduled maintenance and repairs occur far more frequently on average and have a larger risk of being severe (15% vs. 12% on average).
The battery of the BMW i3 range extender is charged.
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.
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.
What distinguishes the BMW i3 from the i3s?
Since the BMW i3 has been available for five years, we have encountered both admirers and detractors of its appearance. There is no denying that the BMW i3 has distinctive styling. This holds true for both the inside and exterior, which both contain fascinating materials and contemporary designs, many of which look natural or repurposed. Additionally, the dashboard successfully combines form and function.
The i3 is slightly shorter than a Fiesta and has a relatively tiny overall footprint (4 meters), but it boasts a very roomy inside with cutting-edge design that is larger than that of a BMW 3 Series. However, the i3 only has two back seats, and in order to access these seats, passengers in the front seats must first unlock the front door. The result is a huge aperture without a central door pillar, however this is less convenient for the typical family with children than other, more traditional electric vehicles. A small compartment beneath the hood can be used to store the charging connections, but the 260-liter trunk can only be regarded as average in size.
The i3s sports a 40mm wider track, a 10mm lower ride height, and 20mm wider wheels than the original i3. 184 horsepower of power and 270 Nm of torque have been added (the i3 has 170 hp). There is also a 40% increase in power and torque at high rpms in addition to the peak power improvement. The single-speed transmission is still used in the i3s.
The i3’s floor has a sizable lithium-ion battery underneath its skin, while the body is primarily made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic. Under the boot floor of the range extender being tested is a 2-cylinder, 0.6-liter petrol engine similar to one found in a BMW motorcycle. Until it can be recharged or until the 9-liter gasoline tank can be filled, the range extender can recharge the battery if it runs out of juice. In contrast to a plug-in hybrid, the i3 is always propelled by its battery and electric motor rather than switching to its gasoline or diesel engine when the battery is low.
The BMW i3 is being retired for what reason?
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 developed 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 BMW i3 has the highest mileage?
The 2016 BMW i3 owned by Shaun Maidment has just clocked 300,000 kilometers! The most efficient i3 in Africa is Shaun’s car.
In August 2016, Shaun bought a BMW i3. In those five and a half years, this 60 Ah i3 has covered more over 300,000 miles with its original battery! According to EVdatabase, the BMW i3 has a 21.6 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery with a usable capacity of 18.8 kWh and 60 AH cells. The battery in Shaun’s i3 still has roughly 16 kWh of useful capacity after 300,000 miles over five and a half years in warm, sunny South Africa, which is about 85% of its initial useable capacity.
Many of the 300,000 kilometers were traveled on highways. Before South Africa’s fast charging infrastructure was established, Shaun traveled by car from Johannesburg to Cape Town. The i3 that Shaun has is the one with the little gasoline range extender. But back then, he traveled 1500 kilometers without using the modest gasoline generator to help the batteries. The EPA range of the first-generation BMW i3 is roughly 130 kilometres. On the journey, Shaun had to inquire for standard plug points at coffee shops and lodgings. He completed the journey in 5 days. In recent months, as part of his work with Breev, he has been traveling once more throughout South Africa. In South Africa, Breev is extending the rollout of its AC level 2 chargers.
These real-world examples are crucial in the effort to inform and educate people about the potential lifespan of electric vehicle batteries. The majority of people’s practical battery knowledge will be derived through their use of cellphones, conventional 12V automobile batteries, and lead acid stationary storage batteries for their residential solar energy systems. Since they need to be replaced every two years or so, “When do I need to change the battery?” and “How much will it cost to change the battery?” are some of the most often queries we receive from individuals who are unfamiliar with electric vehicles.
Due to the excellent active thermal and battery management technologies found in modern electric vehicles, their lithium-based batteries last a lot longer than is typical. To reassure potential buyers, Toyota, for instance, emphasizes its battery warranty of one million kilometers. These examples from the real world in this region of the world are quite welcome. These practical use cases will go a long way toward allaying the majority of people’s worries about the battery life of contemporary electric vehicles and promoting the uptake of EVs.
He kept studying materials with energy-related applications while he was in college and eventually completed a PhD on the subject of radiation damage in high temperature gas-cooled nuclear reactors. Since then, he has switched to working in the solar and storage sector, and his obsession with batteries has made him a proponent of electric vehicles.