After three years and three months of ownership and more than 130,000 kilometers of driving, a BMW i3 owner says that the battery has only decreased by 4%.
Many potential buyers are concerned about battery deterioration in electric cars, especially those with shorter ranges, especially given the higher purchase price for the (relatively) new zero-emissions technology.
For its i3 batteries, BMW provides a warranty of eight years or 160,000 miles, whichever comes first.
And it appears, at least in the eyes of one owner, that BMW’s engineers were successful in ensuring that the i3 has a battery that performs above expectations.
He claims that since purchasing the vehicle, he has only spent $160 on electricity thanks to a combination of rooftop solar and a Zappi charger that only takes power from the grid when the sun is out.
“We have now traveled 134,055 kilometers,” adds Cathcart. “Not bad for an older EV, with a rather modest 33kWh battery & range of little under 200 kilometers on the highway and approximately 250 kilometers around town.”
The total amount of energy we utilized to get this far was 18,871kWh, which only cost us $160.45. Averaging out to 14.08kWh for every 100 kilometers. I’m recording kWh input, not kWh output, for the automobile. The lifetime consumption rate for the car’s computer is just 12.7 kWh/100 km.
“So why are our electricity prices so remarkably low? This is due to the fact that we invested in a Zappi charger for our home, allowing us to charge the car almost entirely with solar energy. Our charging charges would have been $1,972 if we had to use the grid in place of solar power, he says.
“We just completed the car’s third scheduled service, which only involved replacing the cabin filter and flushing the brake fluid and cost us $249. Thus, in addition to 6 new tires, our total servicing expense now comes to $550, according to Cathcart.
We’ve only experienced a few small problems with the car, including a broken door actuator, pealing door trim, discoloration of the steering wheel, noise from the steering wheel column, and intermittent window squeaking. All of these problems were resolved by BMW while still covered by the warranty.
After more than three years, he continues, “I genuinely still love driving this car, the EV grin isn’t any smaller.”
“We continue to find any justification to travel and experience this wonderful nation. About 40 minutes north of Brisbane is where we live. Whether it’s a trip to Cairns or just a different route to the locations we frequently visit.
“Driving in the comfort and quiet of an electric car is just a delight. Every time we give someone a ride, they are in awe of the engine’s power and torque as well as how quiet it is.
The degeneration of the battery is another issue that many EV customers run across, he adds.
Accordingly, the 94Ah battery in my car has degraded by 4.23% over 134k miles, according to the computer.
In This Article...
The highest mileage in South Africa On its original battery, the BMW i3 has now covered 300,000 km!
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.
The time has come: It’s time to bid the BMW i3 adieu after nine years.
The manufacture of the BMW i3, BMW’s first I brand EV, will end later this summer after nine years and more than 250,000 sold units. Even so, the eccentric little compact can depart with pride since the electric future it foresaw has come to pass.
Along with its I stablemate, the BMW i8, the BMW i3 debuted as a concept in 2011 and was boldly futuristic. The recently introduced I brand projected a futuristic image of a world filled with electric vehicles. It was a future that ultimately never materialized because our current reality is superior. Almost all new cars in this future are electric, yes, but they are the standard.
According to the Electrify America ad campaign, EVs are now commonplace. In 2011, a year before the first Tesla Model S vehicle left the factory, they weren’t normal, and the BMW I vehicles didn’t even make an effort to be normal. Even with the i3 equipped with Rex, they were happy to be unusual and even avoided being labeled as hybrids.
There won’t be a direct competitor to the BMW i3 that utilizes the same high-end, expensive, lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber structure. Instead, the iX1, an all-electric version of the BMW X1 crossover that sits just below the iX3, and an electric version of the next-generation MINI Cooper will subtly replace the i3.
BMW executives agree that the brand’s new EVs will benefit the i3’s followers. The Mini Electric or the future BMW iX1 will be ideal for today’s customers who want a fully electric city car that is precisely fitted for urban driving or a small but roomy vehicle for an active lifestyle, a BMW UK spokeswoman told Autocar. The BMW Group will have six BEV cars available on the market by the end of this year, and 13 by 2023.
How long does a BMW i3’s battery last?
Is there any information yet available about the BMW i3’s battery life or rate of degradation? I use a (66) plate to drive the 94Ah range extender. I’m pretty pleased with it and would like to purchase one entirely, but it’s hard to get information about the battery life.
There haven’t been many complaints about the i3’s battery life. With a lifespan of 15 years and beyond, BMW has previously claimed that its batteries are built to last as long as the car. It also ensures that after 8 years or 100,000 miles, the i3 batteries will still have at least 70% of their original capacity. I wouldn’t worry too much about the battery life, especially since you’ll save money on fuel and maintenance.
My Kia Niro PHEV recently arrived, and I’m quite happy with it. In order to have a fully charged battery for local travels, I have a wallbox charger and plan to top it off every night. Will the battery be harmed by this?
My dad and I used to talk about these things all the time, but he regrettably passed away last year. I was interested in purchasing a used Renault Zoe and wondering if the battery life would decrease with time. I don’t…
I recently read a fascinating article about folks who charge their electric cars at night using solar power or inexpensive electricity to power their homes or even sell…
Exceptional interior design, outstanding performance and handling, range extension options, and an eight-year battery warranty make this the 2014 UK Car of the Year.
What is the battery warranty for an i3 that is either new or used?
BMW provides an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty against errors or severe battery degradation. The guarantee provides protection from degradation that exceeds 70% of the coverage. With the sale of the car, the remaining warranty is also transferable. Although many of these do not cover battery replacements, supplemental insurance is available for certified pre-owned i3 purchases.
How far can a BMW i3 travel?
What is the BMW i3 EV’s driving range? The EPA estimates that the BMW i3 has a range of 153 miles. The electric-only range is reduced to 126 miles when the two-cylinder gas engine range extender is added, but the overall range is increased to 200 miles. The Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt are still ahead in terms of battery-electric automobiles.
The BMW i3’s brakes’ lifespan
Depending on your driving habits, the 2021 BMW i3 brake pads typically last between 30,000 and 70,000 kilometers. You’ll need to be checked out more frequently if you commute in congested traffic and brake frequently.
Is the BMW i3 a trustworthy vehicle?
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 frequently does a BMW i3 need maintenance?
Compared to gasoline or diesel vehicles, the majority of electric vehicles require far less regular maintenance. For the Renault Zoe2, for instance, Renault recommends intervals of 18,000 miles as opposed to 9,000 miles for its petrol vehicles.
Like combustion-engined vehicles, Volkswagen electric vehicles, such as the ID.3 and ID.4, have a defined maintenance plan, with the first inspection necessary after two years. After that, a service is advised to be performed annually or every 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Hyundai’s petrol and hybrid vehicles have identical electric vehicle service plan intervals at 10,000-mile intervals in the first year, 20,000 miles in the second year, and so on, depending on which milestone is reached first. The service intervals for the BMW i3 are two years or 18,000 miles.
The fact that almost all auto manufacturers provide an electric vehicle service plan makes servicing an electric vehicle easier. Similar to a cell phone contract, they can be paid monthly or up front and give you access to a set list of features.
For three years and 30,000 miles, Renault’s Zoe electric car service plan costs PS299, compared to PS499 for a petrol or diesel car over the same time period.
Service contracts for Audi’s selection of E-tron models start at a one-time cost of PS299.25. This covers one servicing, one replacement of the pollen filter, and one brake fluid replacement. For a 2.0-liter combustion model, a service package costs PS449.25.
Vauxhall provides a core electric car service for the first year of ownership starting at PS90 and going up to PS239 with the addition of a cabin filter check. The three years of servicing that come with a new Vauxhall EV, however, should save you from having to pay anything.
The first, second, and third yearly services, two years of Vauxhall Roadside Assistance, and the first MOT are all included in a brand-new combustion Vauxhall service plan, which starts at PS19 per month for a three-year term.
Generally speaking, ‘wear and tear’ items like brake parts, tires, and windscreen wiper blades are not covered by service plans.
Additionally, you might be able to lower the expense of maintaining your EV. For instance, driving for extended periods of time with a battery charge of less than 20 percent can reduce battery life.
An EV battery typically comes with an eight-year warranty. The technical warranty for the automobile itself, which is often three, five, or seven years, is far shorter than this, which is reassuring.
While under warranty, an electric vehicle must be serviced by a franchised dealer. Once this has passed, though, you might discover that it is less expensive to take it to a separate garage for repairs. Finding a specialist qualified to perform maintenance can be more difficult because EV technology is still relatively new, but the good news is that it’s not insurmountable.