BMW's pint-sized i3 EV will soon travel further between recharges, with a 2019 update increasing both battery capacity and estimated range.
The latest changes, which amount to doubled battery size since the car's 2013 launch, give the i3 a capacity of 120Ah and 42.2kWh. The changes increase driving range from around 300km to 358km, according to NEDC measurements. During what BMW refers to as "everyday use", the i3 can now travel 30 per cent further between recharges, with 257km on offer.
The i3 will regain 80 per cent of its charge in just 42 minutes when plugged into a fast charger, while customers that have a BMW i Wallbox at home can get the same level of charge in 4.9 hours. Should neither of those solutions be at your disposal, then a standard charging cable using household power will require around 15 hours to hit 80 per cent charge.
The exterior changes have been kept pretty minimal (a new paint colour and adaptive LED headlights headline the changes), but the performance figures have improved, with the 127kW i3 able to clip 100km/h in 7.3 seconds, while the 137kW i3s drops that number to 6.9 seconds.
Is the i3 your small EV of choice? Tell us in the comments below.
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.
But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.
And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.
When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.
But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.
More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
About Author
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
Comments