Review
BMW i3
On August 1 of this year, a total of 2,871 electric cars were registered in Belgium. This is not much for a total fleet of 5.6 million passenger cars, but the figures are growing and more and more people are gradually finding their way to an electric car. In this issue a test with the BMW i3. This is not a classic car that was subsequently transformed into an electric car, but a future-oriented car that was conceived as an electric car from the start.
Autonomy from 190 km to 300 km with range extender
You can choose from a total of 4 versions of the BMW i3. Two 100% electric versions, the BMW i3 and the BMW i3 Advanced. Both models have a power of 170 hp and an autonomy of 190 km according to BMW. The basic prices are 36,000 euros and 38,950 euros respectively. If you want even more range, you can also opt for the BMW i3 Range Extender (from 40,490 euros) or the BMW i3 Range Extender Advanced (from 43,450 euros). If you choose the version with range extender, you have a total theoretical range of 300 km according to BMW. The version with the range extender has a 650cc combustion engine and a 9 liter petrol tank. This combustion engine does not drive the wheels directly, but ensures that the battery is charged. In practice, the range is of course influenced by a number of factors such as your personal driving style, which means the range can be a lot lower. However, according to research by the Flemish Government, the average journey of Flemish people per day is about 41 km. In principle, an electric car that has a range of 100 to 200 km will be more than sufficient for daily use.
Lithium-ion batteries
The electric motor of the BMW i3 is powered by specially developed lithium-ion batteries. The batteries are designed to last for the life of the vehicle. BMW gives a warranty of eight years or up to 100,000 kilometers on the batteries.
Charging: three to 5 hours
You can charge the batteries of the BMW i3 via a traditional socket, the BMW i Wallbox or a public charging station.
The BMW i Wallbox is a personal charging station that is mounted on the wall of your home or garage. This allows you to charge the i3 to 80% in less than 6 hours. If the power grid at your home allows it, you can also opt for the Wallbox Pure. This allows you to charge the i3 to 80% in less than 3 hours.
You can also charge the i3 on the go via, for example, public charging stations. With a fast charging station (50 kW) you can charge the battery to 80% in about 30 minutes.
Driving experience
The BMW i3 in all its variants has a power of 170 hp and a torque of 250Nm. On paper, these are not incredibly sharp figures, but the advantage of an electric car is that this power is immediately available. That is, from the moment you touch the accelerator. In other words, the i3 is making good progress . An electric car can also offer driving pleasure for the sporty driver. The journey from 0-100 km/h takes 7.2 seconds (7.9 seconds with the range extender) and the top speed is electronically limited to 150 km/h. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission. During the fully electric ride, the deafening silence is also noticeable. If you turn off the radio, you will hear the rolling noise of the tires on the road at higher speeds. If you drive in the city at 30 km/h you really hear nothing. If you lower the window, you will hear a very light humming sound from the electric motor. What a difference this would make if the majority of cars in the city were electric. Pedestrians or cyclists, on the other hand, sometimes jump as they do not hear the car coming. In the version with the range extender, you will hear a soft hum when the range extender is working. Quieter, for example, than the sound of a classic car idling.
The operation of the i3 is very simple and user-friendly. Behind the steering wheel is a control element with a start/stop button to turn the car on and off. You can put the car in D to go forward or R to go backwards. You also have a neutral (N) position and a position for parking. It couldn’t be simpler. The foot control is also largely with 1 pedal, the accelerator pedal. You logically use this to accelerate. When you take your foot off this pedal, the operation of the electric motor is switched to that of a generator, which charges the batteries. At the same time, this has the same effect as if you were pressing the brakes. This process even controls the brake lights as well. Of course there is a second pedal for braking, but in most situations you can actually continue by just playing with the accelerator pedal.
Buy online
What is also innovative about the BMW i3 is that you can buy it completely online on the BMW site if you wish. The central idea is that you can get in touch with BMW i anytime and anywhere, whether through a dealer, a hotline or online, within the framework of a flexible sales network.
Conclusion
The BMW i3 is a surprisingly nice car. In terms of driving experience, you can also drive sporty with an electric car and the silence that comes with it certainly appeals to us. Of course you have to take the electric range of the car into account, but if you opt for the version with range extender, that can no longer be a barrier.
Johan De Haes
Test driver
