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. Similar to the Model 3, the Model 3 has a maximum range of 353 miles on its largest battery. However, only the i3 features a range-extension generator that starts when the battery’s charge drops below 5 percent and is powered by gasoline.
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EPA’s range projections
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.
Information about the BMW I3
When it was first introduced, the compact electric car from the Bavarian automaker had a rather small 33kWh battery that, according to the EPA, offers 114 miles of driving range. The town benefits, but practically everything else suffers. Naturally, BMW made an effort to counter that with the REx model, which used a gasoline engine to give the batteries extra power. Range, though, was obviously set too low.
Therefore, a German energy storage startup called Lion Smart just unveiled their own battery pack for the i3 in order to demonstrate the capabilities of this modular platform. This “Light Battery” pack concept, which is still in development, employs a modular architecture intended to lower costs and enhance safety. But for the BMW i3, that means the German automaker stuffed a 100kWh high-density battery pack inside the vehicle. This results in a range of around 435 miles (700 kilometers).
This is a remarkable improvement over the OEM range offered by the vehicle, however it’s still unclear whether it is based on the NEDC or WLTP cycle, or the company’s own internal testing. That same range is also what BMW anticipates for their own iNext EV, which will make its debut in 2022, making the situation even more enticing. Actually, it appears that BMW, along with other German automakers, developed cutting-edge modular technology for its new vehicles. They fall short, though, in the battery sectors.
In the video below, you can find out all about the BMW i3 they utilized and the Lion Light battery technology. This battery pack was created using some outstanding engineering and design concepts, enabling it to be entirely adjustable in terms of capacity, voltage, and physical dimensions.
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.
Range i3 and MPGe
The fuel cell size and a device known as a Range Extender are the two most important variables, even if i3 range varies by trim and year.
A The i3 lithium-ion batteries have ranges between 80 and 180 miles on a full charge and have been as small as 22 kWh and as large as 42 kWh. Although the battery size was a contributing factor, the difference was quite large.
Some BMW i3 vehicles now come with a Range Extender, a little gas engine. The Range Extender solely produces power to charge the battery while moving, unlike a normal hybrid that employs a gasoline engine to power a powertrain. Consider it as a generator that is on board. A
The EPA created the MPGe metric, or miles per gallon of gasoline equivalent, for hybrid and emission-free automobiles. Range measures distance, whereas MGPe determines efficiency, and the two are not associated in any way. A
This comparison of two 2017 i3 models demonstrates how range and MPGe differ.
A
- The car to the left has a 22 kWh battery with an 81-mile range and 124 MPGe. A
- The vehicle to the right has a 33 kWh battery and a comparable 118 combined MPGe. It has a range of 114 miles.
- A A
Remember that these ratings come from recently manufactured new cars. It’s critical to monitor battery health and i3 range using Recurrent reporting because batteries deteriorate over time. a
MPG and operating expenses
All electric vehicles have low operating expenses, and the i3 is no exception. However, the price you pay for the power you use to charge it up will primarily determine how much it costs per mile to drive. Currently, the typical off-peak UK economy 7 tariff is around PS0.06/kWh, with standard rates being roughly twice that.
BMW claims that their vehicles use 29 kWh of energy per 100 miles, yet the majority of customers are hooked on the potential range (call it 130 miles for the new 33kWh battery pack). According to those calculations, running 100 kilometers in an i3 will cost less than PS1.74 off-peak and PS3.48 during peak hours.
Since its battery upgrade, the baseline i3 has a range of 195 miles on the common EU combined cycle, but in reality, the range will be closer to 130 miles. Although the range-extended variant can’t go as far on electricity alone, according to BMW’s official statistics, the car can go 231 miles on electricity and gasoline together.
To do so, you’ll need especially thin soles and the patience of a saint, but for some people, the extra 80 or so miles of gasoline power will be enough to make up for the slight performance and refinement drawbacks of the range-extender. Your stats can be inflated if you choose the EcoPro mode, which slows down the throttle response and limits your highest speed. But sometimes, isn’t life too short?
Due to the standard car’s low number of moving parts and zero rated road and Benefit in Kind taxation, servicing costs are reduced to a minimum. Even the model with the range extension only gets 5% BIK. As a result of the i3’s expected low annual mileage, BMW also offers its own “FlexiMile” insurance.
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 is the BMW i3’s maximum range?
The BMW i3 with the most range? The BMW i3 and i3s with the optional Range Extender will have a 200-mile range, which is the longest range in the model’s history. This translates to a combustion engine range of 74 miles and an all-electric range of 126 miles.
How far can a BMW i3 travel when using a range extender?
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.
What is the BMW i3’s charging speed?
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 price of a 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. A
- According to a 2016 BMW study, a new i3 battery would cost roughly $16,000. This was for the 22 kWh packs used in the 2013–2016 model years, which came out to $727 per kWh in actual 2016 currency. A
- According to a 2015 InsideEV study, a 21.6 kWh battery pack would cost $13,725 or $635 per kWh. These costs were computed using data from an internet parts retailer. A
What vehicle will succeed the BMW i3?
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 reached a production run of more than a quarter of a million, the final i3 came off the production line in Leipzig, Germany. Ten units of the i3 HomeRun Edition, an ultra-exclusive special edition model with the company’s “Frozen paint finish,” have been ordered to commemorate the event.
The i3 was originally seen by the public in concept form at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, and when the production vehicle was introduced in 2013, it substantially resembled the show-car design.
The upright proportions, glass tailgate, two-tone paint job, and dipping shoulder line all deviated from the typical BMW design cues that customers had grown accustomed to. It launched BMW’s new I sub-brand, which was one of the factors contributing to the bizarre appearance (along with the i8 sports car).
Rear-hinged doors are always interesting, and they undoubtedly contributed to the i3’s personality, along with the interior. The technology was updated over the course of its existence to keep it feeling modern. The interior itself featured a low dash and window line for a light and airy atmosphere.
A custom platform made of a combination of aluminum, magnesium, and carbon fiber is positioned below the i3 to keep weight at just over a tonne. Due to the lack of weight, the vehicle’s ultimate fully-electric design had a maximum range of 190 miles.
The UK’s police, fire, and ambulance services all adopted the i3 due to its popularity with emergency services.
There won’t be a direct replacement for the i3, and a completely electric version of the 3 Series saloon is anticipated to receive the i3 badge. The iX1, an electric variant of the new X1 SUV, will be the company’s entry-level EV model.
Why is BMW ending production of the i3?
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 evolved 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.