As part of an update for the 2017 model year, BMW is taking a cue from Tesla and giving the i3 electric car with a larger battery-pack option. A new option that costs $2050 raises the battery capacity to 33.2 kWh, providing an EPA-rated 114 miles of driving range on a full charge—33 miles more than the base model. The base BMW i3 still employs the same 21.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack as i3s from the past. BMW chose to potentially mislead customers by naming the available batteries based on their ampere-hour ratings, in contrast to Tesla, which follows the tradition of adding the energy capacity of its batteries, in kilowatt-hours, in the names of its automobiles. Despite the fact that 21.6 kWh and 33.2 kWh and 60 Ah and 94 Ah appear to be more impressive on paper, you will only hear us refer to the later pair.)
The i3 is available with a range extender, a tiny 647-cc inline-two-cylinder gasoline engine positioned directly front of the rear axle but with no connection to the driving wheels, much like in previous years. The 38-hp twin’s sole function is to drive a generator that, should the battery pack’s charge drop below a predetermined level, keeps it there. This range extender, which is now exclusive to the i3 equipped with the larger battery, raises the price by $3850 and increases the curb weight by around 270 pounds.
The i3s fitted with the range extender suffer from those extra pounds, since the EPA estimates that this model can only drive 97 miles on a single charge. However, the EPA estimates that the i3’s two-cylinder can travel a further 66 miles before needing to refill its tiny 2.4-gallon gasoline tank, giving it a net range of 180 miles. Compared to earlier models of the i3 equipped with the range extender, which had a smaller battery pack (21.6 kWh) and carried even less fuel, this model has a 30-mile improvement (1.9 gallons).
The i3 can travel further than previously because to the larger battery, but there are trade-offs. The 33.2-kWh pack weighs roughly 75 pounds more and requires more time to charge than the smaller battery, but it occupies the same amount of space. According to BMW, the 33.2 kWh battery pack needs four hours and thirty minutes to fully charge when using a 240-volt power supply, which is an hour more time than it claimed for the smaller battery. According to BMW, the i3 can be charged to 80% of its capacity using a 50-kilowatt DC fast-charging system in about 40 minutes, while the smaller pack only requires around 25 minutes.
The additional mass of the range extender also lowers overall efficiency. The original model gets 124 MPGe, while the range-extended variant gets 111 MPGe, according to the EPA, who rates the big-battery i3 at 118 MPGe combined. The latest model only achieves 35 mpg combined with the two-cylinder running. Over 497 miles of mixed driving, which included using the range extender, we obtained 79 MPGe.
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SERPRESULT
The 81-mile all-electric range of the 60 Ah battery is increased to 114 miles by the 94 Ah battery.
The BMW i3 begins its fourth year of production in 2017 with few changes aside from the availability of a bigger battery.
How far can the BMW i3 actually travel?
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 far can a 2017 BMW i3 travel?
While the 21.6-kWh lithium-ion battery pack in the base BMW i3 remains unchanged from previous models, a new option raises the battery capacity to 33.2 kWh for
A BMW i3’s top speed is what?
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.
Why is BMW ending production of the i3?
Does the BMW i3 REx utilize gasoline then? The short response is no. It’s crucial to remember that the i3 REx still has an electric motor that propels the vehicle.
BMW i3 dependability
If you’re searching for an electric car that’s convenient to drive around town and has a sleek, upscale cabin, the BMW i3 is definitely worth taking into consideration. But you’ll spend more for the i3’s great appearance and quality than you will for its more affordable substitutes, similar to how an iPad compares to a white-label Android tablet.
On a BMW i3, how do you turn on the range extender?
What Is the BMW i3 EV’s Speed? BMW states that the i3 has a top speed of 93 mph and a zero to 60 mph time of 7.2 seconds. Models with the range extender need about eight seconds, whereas the i3s completes the run in 6.8 seconds.
How far can a BMW i3 travel on a single charge?
The 2017 i3’s larger battery allows it to travel 114 miles, according to the EPA. The 2017 i3 REx variant offers a battery range of EPA estimated 97 miles (slightly less than the electric-only model due to the REx system’s increased weight) and a total driving range of 180 miles when using the range extender.
The i3 with the greatest range?
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 long does a battery for a BMW i3 last?
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.
The battery is charged by the BMW i3 Range Extender.
You can manually start the range extender with the iDrive if you want to save the electric charge for later in the journey. Press the MENU button, then, with the iDrive Controller, choose “Settings,” “Range Extender,” and then “Hold State of Charge.”
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.
How much does a BMW i3 battery replacement cost?
According to BMW, the i3 variants have a range of between 177 and 193 miles, depending on the choices and equipment. In actual use, aim for 140–150 miles, averaging at least four miles per kWh.
Can a BMW i3 be charged at a Tesla supercharger?
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 long does it take a charging station to fully charge a BMW i3?
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-i3 electric vehicles as the basis for the withdrawal.
Can you only use gas to power an i3?
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 i3 still a good investment?
Small 2 cylinder, 0.647 liter (39.5 cubic inch), inline 4-valve per cylinder gasoline engine, the Range Extender generates 34 horsepower and 40 lb-ft of torque at 4300 revolutions per minute. The wheels are not connected to the gasoline engine, which is just used to charge the batteries.