With no emissions from the tailpipe, the BMW i8 has a range of up to 34 miles when driven around town in electric only mode. To prevent the i8 from starting its gasoline engine, press the EV button.
In This Article...
EV Performance, Power, and Motor
The i8 from BMW has just one available powerplant. A 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged gas engine is coupled with an 11.6-kWh battery and two electric motors in this vehicle. With their combined 369 horsepower, the trio of engines can move all four wheels. But it’s not the quickest supercar around: In 4.1 seconds, the 2019 i8 roadster we tested could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. The same mild steering we’ve questioned in many recent BMWs is present in the i8. More feedback is preferred, especially in a vehicle designed with sporting purposes. Surprisingly, the ride is smooth, and road imperfections are felt but never sharply.
BMW i8
BMW created the plug-in hybrid sports automobile known as the BMW i8. The i8 was marketed under the BMW I subbrand and was a member of BMW’s electrified lineup. The BMW i8 production model debuted at the 2013 Frankfurt Auto Show and went on sale in Germany in June 2014. In August 2014, deliveries to retail consumers in the US started. In May 2018, a roadster variation was released. June 2020 marked the end of production.
The 2015 BMW i8 featured an electronically regulated peak speed of 250 km/h and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.4 seconds (155 mph). A 7.1 kWh lithium-ion battery pack allowed the 2015 model year i8 to have an all-electric range of 37 kilometers (23 miles) on the New European Driving Cycle. The range in EV mode was 24 km when tested using the U.S. EPA cycle (15 mi). In 2018, BMW upped the battery capacity of the i8 Roadster and Coupe to 11.6 kWh, extending the NEDC electric range to 55 km (34 mi) for the coupe and 53 km (33 mi) for the roadster.
Under the NEDC test, the BMW i8 coupe’s fuel economy was 2.1 L/100 km (134.5 mpg-imp; 112.0 mpg-US), with carbon emissions of 49 g/km. The i8’s combined fuel efficiency was assessed by the EPA at 76 MPGe (3.1 L gasoline-equivalent/100 km; 91 mpg-imp gasoline-equivalent) and 29 miles per gallon (6.7 L/100 km) while it was operating in pure gasoline mode.
The BMW i8 became the most popular plug-in electric sports car in the world by March 2020, with global sales of all variants topping 20,000 units, outpacing the combined sales of all rivals in its sector.
Next month, BMW will stop making the i8 electric sports car.
The manufacture of the BMW i8, the best-selling plug-in hybrid sports car, will finish next month after producing around 20,000 units.
Today, the German manufacturer declared:
“The last stretch before reaching the “Hall of Fame” for BMW sports cars: The BMW i8’s product life cycle concludes six years after it was first introduced to the market. The plug-in hybrid sports cars will have long since cemented their place among the company’s milestones by the time manufacture of the BMW i8 Coupe ends. The BMW i8 was a groundbreaking combination of futuristic design and cutting-edge technology that launched its global success story. The first plug-in hybrid vehicle from the BMW Group set the way for driving enjoyment that was both exciting and environmentally friendly, and it quickly rose to the top of the fascination with driving using electrified drive technology. The plug-in hybrid models offered by the BMW Group today are made possible thanks to it. At the same time, the BMW i8 evolved into the most popular sports car with an electric drivetrain in the world. Since 2014, it has sold more than 20,000 units, outpacing all of its rivals in this market sector combined in sales.”
The BMW i8 concept was initially presented at the 2009 Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA).
The production model made its premiere with the BMW i3 four years later, and many people predicted that it would be the first of many new electric vehicle debuts for BMW.
The BMW i3 is still the only all-electric model offered by the German carmaker, although the BMW i8 spurred the development of numerous plug-in hybrid variants of other models.
As it affirms that production of the i8 will finish in April, BMW now claims that it is turning into a “classic automobile.”
Is the BMW i8 a battery-powered car?
Oh, that’s a nice automobile. And yeah, it was a pricey ride! Rather than being an entirely electric vehicle, the BMW i8 is more of a hybrid. While an electric engine powers the front wheels, fuel powers the back. It can only travel about 31 miles in full electric mode with its 11.6 kWh battery.
Here are some further intriguing BMW i8 details:
- Although the automobile has 369 horsepower, many of its detractors argue that this is insufficient considering the high price ($147,000).
- It was timed at 3.9 seconds to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour.
- Since the BMW i8 was truly canceled in 2020, it may become somewhat of a collectible.
So, the question is, will the BMW i8 go down in history as another once-futuristic masterpiece-turned-failed relic or as a fleetingly gorgeous cult classic? In 20 years, ask me!
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The BMW i8 is a hybrid, right?
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The BMW i8 offers a combination of style, performance, and efficiency that is unmatched by any other vehicle in its class. It’s not as entertaining to drive as the more affordable, class-leading Porsche 911, but many will find the dramatic style and eco-friendly image alluring.
While it can’t quite match the i8’s supercar-like appearance, performance is by no means inadequate, and there is more than enough power to enjoy driving. However, experienced drivers may find the driving experience to be a little disjointed; if you require a practical daily sports car, there are more roomy competitors available.
The BMW i8 is a novel offering in the market for high-end sports cars. The i8, a Porsche 911 challenger, injects some environmental awareness into the market with the help of its petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Its expensive pricing and affordable operating expenses are both belied by its exotic appearance.
The BMW i8 joins the i3 hatchback as a member of BMW’s I eco lineup. It has a superior carbon fiber construction for strength and lightness, and its 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine and electric motor work together to deliver power to all four wheels. It’s still a relatively uncommon sight, especially given that BMW has been selling the i8 since 2014. The vehicle is not as prevalent as its Porsche 911 competitor due to low production levels.
At first glance, the powertrain idea doesn’t sound all that interesting, especially if you want your supercars to have large multi-cylinder engines. By sportscar standards, the i8’s three-cylinder engine only puts out 228 horsepower, but there is an additional 141 horsepower from an electric motor driving the front wheels to help provide the necessary power.
Why did BMW discontinue the i8?
On Thursday, the final i8 to be produced rolled out of the Leipzig BMW facility. Actually, the PHEV’s manufacturing was scheduled to stop in the middle of April. However, because of the factory’s closure due to the coronavirus outbreak, manufacturing was delayed until June.
Since manufacturing on the i8 began six years ago, exactly 20,448 vehicles have been sent from the factory. According to a press release from BMW, the final vehicle was an i8 Roadster in “Portimao Blue” and it was sold to a buyer in Germany.
The i8 was the first plug-in hybrid vehicle in the whole BMW Group when it made its debut in 2014. The hybrid sports car was never successful outside of its specialized market due to its intricate carbon body and six-figure base price. The i8 “embodies the departure into electric mobility like no other car,” according to Hans-Peter Kemser, head of the BMW plant in Leipzig. The model served as the inspiration for the current variety of plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Currently, one shift of production for the Leipzig-based BMW i3 produces 116 units per day. Hans-Peter Kemser, the plant manager, claims that if demand for e-cars in Germany increases, production of the i3 might be expanded to two shifts and thus boosted to 250 units per day.
There won’t be a straight replacement for the i8. In the interim, there have been rumors that the 2019 Vision M Next concept car may be produced in large quantities. The BMW board of directors reportedly decided against the 441 kW sports car, also against the backdrop of the Corona crisis, primarily due to “costs and the volume,” according to media reports. However, the hybrid sports car (this time with a four-cylinder petrol engine instead of the three-cylinder in the i8) did not get beyond the planning stage.
The BMW i8: Supercar or not?
The plug-in hybrid performance of the BMW supercar i8 pulls you onward. It stands out among other sports vehicles in its sector thanks to its state-of-the-art hybrid powertrain.
How is a BMW i8 fueled?
The BMW i8 Hybrid is an amazing car. Few modern cars can match its exotic styling, and even fewer can claim to offer the same level of comfort for the driver and passengers. The BMW i8 leads the pack in several of these categories, but it is not without its flaws. The sticky gasoline door that can leave you trapped at the pump is one particular oddity that aggravates both vehicle owners and renters.
In an effort to create “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” BMW compressed the i8 hybrid’s whole fuel system. “Preparing To Refuel” will be shown on the dashboard when you press the fuel door release button on the driver’s door. Rarely, the door won’t open and the notification will remain on the dash. Follow these easy methods to swiftly open the fuel door if this ever occurs to you.
- On the driver’s side door, push the button to open the fuel door.
- Look at the dashboard to see the message “Preparing To Refuel.” There will probably be a percentage with this message.
- If this process doesn’t finish on its own after 30 seconds, wait some more.
- The car’s trunk should be opened. There is a trunk release on the driver’s side door as well.
- the vehicle’s passengers side access panel should be removed.
- Release the green tab.
- To release the gasoline tank door, press it.
Does the BMW i8 allow for in-car charging?
Although you can plug in the i8 to fully charge the battery, if you drive in EV mode and completely drain the battery, you can recharge it while you’re on the road. This is especially noticeable in Sport mode.