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The same is true of electric vehicles, which depend on a variety of people to function.
Some clients choose a battery-only electric car because they never want to handle gasoline again. Others like the convenience that a plug-in hybrid or range-extended electric vehicle provides.
With the 2014 i3, BMW gives you both, but which should you choose if you’re undecided?
Tom Moloughney, a longtime participant in the BMW electric program, has looked at this issue on the BMW Blog, and his observations on each vehicle should help you choose which i3 model is the better one for you.
Whether the i3’s 81-mile EPA-rated range will be adequate to suit your needs will play a significant role in that decision.
With a combined rating of 124 MPG from a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery, 81 miles makes the i3 the most effective battery electric car on the market.
However, it can also be too limited for some customers, in which case the range-extended variant is useful.
According to Moloughney, potential i3 buyers fall into one of four categories. The first group consists of potential buyers who are interested in the vehicle but for whom 81 miles is too few and the REx model is unsuitable.
The second can accept the 81-mile battery-electric vehicle’s (BEV) limits and choose it. The third, which includes Moloughney, would prefer the BEV but went for the range-extended model out of caution.
The fourth group chooses the range-extender model because they enjoy the concept of it right away.
In essence, it’s the same choice that owners of other electric vehicles may have made in the past when deciding between the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, two of the best-selling models on the market.
Similar to those two vehicles, the battery-only model will initially cost you less money. The range-extended i3 will cost an extra $3,850 at the time of purchase.
Due to its reduced weight, the all-electric i3 performs a little bit better, costs less to purchase, and you’ll never have to step foot on a gas station forecourt again.
The i3 REx is slightly more expensive and offers less performance. However, it doubles the vehicle’s actual range for the few occasions when you might need it.
However, there is one more thing that can turn you away from the REx: if you reside in California, the i3 REx only qualifies for a supply-limited green carpool lane sticker as opposed to the white sticker for all-electric vehicles.
On the other hand, both models are eligible for the full $2,500 California State Purchase Rebate.
One more point: according to Moloughney, BMW will closely track the sales of BEVs and REx.
If the majority of customers choose the 81-mile electric model, BMW will interpret this as evidence that 81 miles is a sufficient range for most users.
BMW’s next generation of electric vehicles may be available with a longer range if REx sales are higher than they otherwise might have been since buyers obviously demand a longer range from their i3s.
That’s hardly a reason to choose the REx on its own, but if you’re a fan of BMW and expecting for longer-range electric cars in the future, it might be one way to convince BMW of your argument.
In This Article...
Experience with Range Extender
The base 2014 BMW i3 BEV is an all-electric vehicle. The BMW i3 Range Extender, the variant I drove, increases the car’s weight by around 300 pounds, adds a 647-cc two-cylinder engine, and increases its expected range to 150 miles for an additional $3,850. The gasoline engine starts to run once the battery pack loses around 5% of its capacity. The 38-hp BMW scooter motor is just intended to maintain the battery level; it never drives or charges the i3 directly.
The i3 does not become a typical automobile when the REx option is selected. When the gas engine starts up, you must pay attention to how you drive. The car’s little twin-cylinder engine was chugging along behind the back seats as I drove along the interstate at 80 mph when it started to lose power. My highest speed abruptly dropped to 73 mph (as opposed to the BMW’s stated top speed of 93 mph). As a range extender to get you back to a battery charger and full performance, consider the REx configuration for what it is.
How many miles can the 2014 BMW i3 travel?
The i3 is the most effective battery-electric vehicle on the market, with a 124 MPG-e rating, after only 81 miles from a 22 kWh lithium-ion battery.
Is a 2014 i3’s 60-mile range typical?
The sole all-electric vehicle in the high-end small car segment is the 2014 BMW i3. A 170-horsepower electric engine with a one-speed transmission and rear-wheel drive powers this four-door hatchback. Overall range of its 22 kWh lithium-ion battery is 81 miles.
How long does the battery in a 2014 BMW i3 last?
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. Similarly, the Model 3’s largest battery allows for a maximum distance of 353 miles.
How much time does a BMW i3 last?
use the gas-powered BMW i3 REx The i3 REx relies on the battery charge and never uses gasoline. In some circumstances, your car will use more electricity than its range extender can compensate for.
Is the BMW i3 trustworthy?
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.
What is the 2014 BMW i3 battery warranty?
Your EV should last as least as long as a typical automobile, whether you purchase a new or old vehicle. And with the proper upkeep, you could be able to drive it for 200,000 miles or more before it needs to be replaced.
How long does a battery in a BMW i3 last?
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.
Is the BMW i3 being phased out?
What is the battery warranty for an i3 that is either new or used? BMW provides an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty against flaws or severe battery degradation.
A BMW i3 can it be overcharged?
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 operate a Supercharger with a BMW electric vehicle using any of the available adapters.
BMW i3 is either electric or hybrid.
BMW makes the unusual claim that they “recommend” using 91 octane petrol in the i3Visit the i3 Forum manual, but the “minimum” octane rating is really 89.
Can the BMW i3 just operate on gas?
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.
How much time does it take a BMW i3 to charge at home?
For its i3 batteries, BMW provides a warranty of eight years or 160,000 miles, whichever comes first. And it seems, at least in the eyes of one owner, that BMW’s engineers have been successful in ensuring that the i3 has a battery that performs above expectations.
How much does a BMW i3 battery replacement cost?
BMW claims a range of 182 miles, which was once impressive, but vehicles like the Peugeot e-208 can travel more than 200 miles and are far more affordable.
Can I use a Tesla supercharger to charge my BMW i3?
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.
Do I3’s require premium gas?
What kind of mileage does a BMW have to have? Although the average BMW can travel between 100,000 and 250,000 miles, excessive mileage is actually regarded as being a little less than this. Most dealers won’t carry BMWs with mileage over 100,000, and some even think 60-80,000 is a high mileage range for these vehicles.
How much does a BMW battery replacement cost?
After nine years of production, BMW has declared that the i3 is no longer being made, putting an end to the inventive and long-lasting little electric car. Just a few weeks after the model’s production run of more than 25,000 reached its end, the final i3 rolled off the assembly line in Leipzig, Germany.
How long does an electric car last?
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.