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.
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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.
FAQs
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
What speed and distance can the BMW i3 S go at?
The BMW i3 was the only entirely electric vehicle offered by BMW up until this point. But the BMW iX3 has now joined the carbon fiber hatchback. The electric SUV was the second totally electric vehicle that the Bavarian automaker made available to the general public. Since this is a significant occasion, I though it would be wise to see how the i3, which is now 7 years old, compares to more recent versions.
Tom Moloughney, a friend and coworker, made the decision to drive a 2020 BMW i3 S around New Jersey. The objective was to determine how far you could go while maintaining highway speeds.
As you may possibly be aware, the efficiency of electric vehicles declines as speed rises. This is caused by a variety of things, including the air resistance they must overcome and the fact that the majority of them only have one gear. Thus, the metropolis would be the best setting for them.
The luxury of possessing two cars, one for the city and one for the highway, is unattainable for the majority of people, though. Therefore, one may be concerned about how well a BMW i3 performs on the highway while purchasing one.
It will easily approach what the EPA estimates, as Tom demonstrates in the video below. As it turned out, he was able to travel 141 miles on a fully charged battery, which is just a little less than the EPA’s predicted 150 miles.
But at this time, it’s important to note that compared to conventional cars, electric vehicles are far more susceptible to a variety of environmental influences. Tom points out that he had to use the air conditioner the entire drive because it was becoming quite warm outside.
ECO Pro mode and other tactics the BMW i3 has up its sleeve could have helped him get a better range. Even so, I believe the vehicle performed admirably, and you now have a clear understanding of what to anticipate when using the i3 on a road trip.
Range of the i3 – Explanation
Your i3’s range may occasionally appear to be lower than the predicted value after completely charging. You see 65 miles (BEV model) as opposed to 85–100 miles. So what is happening?
Based on your driving history, the settings in your car, and its computer, your range is predicted. Additionally, it’s possible that your previous driving experience—perhaps with an icy or misted windscreen at the start—will have an impact on the range you’ve calculated for your upcoming trip. Hilly terrain increases battery drain as the car climbs; windy conditions, even if very marginally, require more electrical energy to drive through a headwind, and all that extra energy has to come from someplace. Nighttime and rainy weather also require headlights and wipers.
You’ll need to re-train the range-o-meter to start giving you a greater mileage if you’re only getting 65 miles of range on a full charge. It will be necessary to make a few driving style adjustments and make a few menu adjustments, which should change your anticipated range over a few days or recharges.
Overview
The BMW i3 from 2021 has amazing aesthetics, but it falls short as an electric car. Competing electric vehicles (EVs) with comparable costs include the Hyundai Kona Electric, Chevrolet Bolt EV, and Tesla Model 3. Customers who aren’t quite ready to give up internal combustion may find consolation in the fact that the i3 can be bought with an optional gasoline-powered engine to make up for its meager 153-mile driving range. However, the i3’s interior is significantly more luxurious than that of its competitors, especially with the available curved wood dashboard and leather and wool upholstery. The future of the i3 is in doubt as the EV movement picks up steam, since BMW is planning more competitive models like the upcoming i4 sedan and iX SUV. 2021 might be your last opportunity to put a brand-new one in your driveway, assuming you like the way the i3 looks and its short driving range fits your needs.
How far can a BMW i3 travel?
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. 114 miles were allowed for the model year.
How far can a BMW i3 travel when using a range extender?
For both of its variants, the 2021 BMW i3 has an all-electric driving range of 153 miles. But with the aid of a backup combustion engine, an optional range extender may boost the i3’s overall driving range to 200 miles.
What BMW i3 has the greatest mileage?
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. Consequently, it is not possible to operate a Supercharger with a BMW electric vehicle using any of the available adapters.
What is the lifespan of a BMW i3?
Increases driving enjoyment: The BMW i3’s optional Range Extender, which is placed next to the electric motor in the back, can extend the vehicle’s range in COMFORT Mode by up to 125 miles, for a total of 205 miles.
What is the BMW i3’s reliability?
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.
What is the BMW i3’s charging speed?
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.
Why has the BMW i3 been retired?
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 going out of production?
To keep your lithium battery as healthy and powerful as possible, strive to keep it between 20% and 80%. The battery infrastructure in your i3 is put under a lot of stress and heat when you charge it to 100% repeatedly. only fully charge before a lengthy trip
Can the BMW i3 just operate on gas?
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.
Can the BMW i3 be charged at home?
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 much time does it take a BMW i3 to charge at home?
Finding charging stations, waiting periods, greater starting expenses, a shorter driving range, and the potential cost of replacing battery packs are some of these drawbacks.