BMW i3 - Why this little EV has big potential

All's ok then

 

I'm sorry, but I've lost that loving feeling for my Prius Plug In. I leased a BMW i3 BEV four weeks ago. If I said, "I love it", you might not believe me, but it's true. It's fantastic, exciting, and so cool. I went with the BEV, because I wanted 100% electric. No need to carry around an additional 300 pounds of REx hardware for maybe 25%, probably less actual use. After putting 11,000 miles on my Prius Plug In, 75% EV, the average 85 all EV range on the i3 is wonderful. If I don't deviate from my home-work-home commute, I can go four days on a charge. When in doubt, I plug it in and top if off. Today, I drove just over thirty miles, but it seems like much more. I always said, give me 30 mile EV range and I'd be happy. I was kidding myself. I'd be hard pressed to exhaust 85 EV miles in a single day.

I've found two other PriusChat members who also have the i3, and they're happy as well.

-The i3 has a distinctive look and I love it. Looks like something that was on the cover of a 50s Popular Mechanics magazine.

-I love the 19" wheels, skinny and all. They provide a neat, distinctive look. Ride quality is smooth.

-Skinny seats, maybe, but they're amongst the most comfortable I've ever experienced.

-Quality, fit, finish, all excellent.

-The i3 is not without some first year problems. Most are REx related. Other items will be adjusted with future software updates.

After owning my Prius Plug In for twenty months, I wasn't happy with 10-14 miles EV. The i3, built from the ground up as a EV, came about at the right time for me. There's nothing else I'd rather have at this time. I learned a lesson when I purchased my 2012 PIP. Technology changes quickly and that's why I went with a 30 month lease this time. My wife and I currently have four vehicles, one too many. I'd prefer to keep the Prius, but she's not willing to compromise on her two. My Prius has been a wonderful experience, but I've outgrown it. It would be my first choice as a ICE vehicle.

 

Nice choice, Don!

I think the i3 is a fantastic EV. The REx definitely has it's issues but I understand why they did it. I felt the same way about my PIP and wanted more EV and more quality. Rattles in a $40k car just doesn't sit well with me.

Keep us posted on the goods and the bads. I'll look for you on the i3 forum.

 

BMW: Big-Money Wheels

 

I thought it's even smaller than that. It's 9 liters which is 2.4 US gallons, no?

Regarding the tall, skinny wheels... I think we all understand why they are skinny: they cut through the air more efficiently than fat wheels. I think the original question was what is the reason for them being tall? Would equally skinny but shorter wheels (assuming taller gearing to produce equivalent final drive ratio) be any less efficient?

 

Fashion.

 

BMW i3 REx With Battery Depleted: 0 To 60 MPH In 13.7 Seconds

 

I wonder what the Prius is like on 2 bars of HV? Similar?

 

My comment over there,"Keep in BMW had to hobble the REX in order for it to get ZEV credits from CARB for the model. In Europe, the driver can select when the engine turns on, as soon as at 70% to 80% SOC. So when you know you are going beyond the EV range, you can turn the engine on while leaving a large battery buffer, so you will very rarely be driving with the battery depleted."