What is it like to live with an electric car? Gareth Butterfield borrows a BMW i3 from Stratstone BMW in Derby to find out

DAY ONE

I’M sitting in the showroom at Stratstone BMW in Derby waiting to be “logged in” to a car. If this week isn’t going to give me a glimpse into the future of motoring, I don’t know what will.

When I got to the dealership, I wasn’t ushered to a desk with all the regular BMW customers. Because I was picking up an i model I was led off to a newly-built, lavishly appointed area away from the main showroom and offered a seat with the firm’s “i agent”, Chris Whitmore.

It’s clear BMW has invested a small fortune into the i brand. As if trying to justify his opulent surroundings Chris begins explaining how it will soon become a standalone marque – I’m guessing in the same way as Toyota did with Lexus and Nissan did with Infiniti.

Except i will be an all-electric brand, focusing on sustainability and zero emissions but not forgetting BMW’s reputation for an involving driving experience. Alright, Chris, I’m sold. Give me the keys, I want a go.

I’m sent on my way with a smartphone app that tells me my car’s status, a fully-charged i3 and a quick-start guide. The last item I took possession of that had a quick start guide was a television. This car feels a lot cleverer than my television. It’s going to be an interesting week.

Read more: Derby Telegraph

A new version of BMW’s i3 has been announced, improving the range of the electric supermini to 195 miles. The i3 94Ah model will replace the current 60Ah version this summer with a battery capacity of 33 kWh.

As Nissan has done with its Leaf 24 and 30 kWh models, BMW has kept the battery dimensions the same to prevent reengineering the model. Instead, it has worked on improving the battery technology to deliver more than a 50 per cent increase in range on the NEDC test.

BMW quotes a 195 range in everyday driving from a full charge with the air conditioning on, while the i3 battery electric vehicle (BEV) will complete the 0-62mph sprint in 7.3 seconds thanks to its 170hp electric motor.

The i3’s battery is made up of eight modules with 12 cells in each and the capacity increase has been attained through the use of optimising cell packaging internally, using more electrolyte and adapting the active material.

BMW offers an eight-year / 100,000 mile warranty on the battery and customers can specify an optional heating system to get the battery up to its optimum operating temperature of 20 degrees Celsius before heading off.

Average power consumption is rated at 12.6 kWh/100km for the BEV, and 11.3 kWh/100km for the i3 REX range extender version. The latter will achieve an equivalent 470.8 MPG and, because of the larger battery, has seen a 1 g/km CO2 reduction to 12 g/km compared to the previous model. BMW quotes a range of 276 miles.

AC multiphase charging allows for 3.7, 7.4 or 11 kW and will charge the i3 BEV in less than three hours despite having a larger battery capacity than before. Rapid DC charging capability comes as standard.

Although there have been no engineering changes barring the battery, specifications have changed, with the Protonic Blue previously reserved for the i8 now available on the new i3 for example. Interior trims are available as separate options for greater levels of customisation, with an Atelier package joining the Loft, Lodge and Suite trims. A focus on using renewable and eco-friendly materials has been carried over from the existing model.

Prices start at £27,830 for the i3 BEV and £30,980 for the i3 REX – both include the £4,500 UK Government Plug-in Car Grant – and the new models are available from July 2016.

Source: Next Green Car

The BMW i3 will get a range increase of between 80 and 100 miles, while DC fast-charging will now come as standard

The BMW i3 will get a hefty increase in range from July, when the all-electric and range-extender city car will be offered with an improved battery as standard.

The new higher-density battery raises the range of the pure-electric i3 – now labelled i3 94Ah – from ‘between 80 and 100 miles’ to 195 miles, although performance remains the same, with a 0-62mph time of 7.3 seconds. The capacity of the range-extender version of the i3 also rises, to a claimed 276 miles. That car’s CO2 emissions also drop by 1g/km, to 12g/km.

BMW is also making DC fast-charging standard across the i3 range (it was previously an option), and even AC charging should be faster, thanks to multi-phase tech that allows 3.7kW, 7.4kW and 11kW. The fastest of these can replenish the i3’s battery in under three hours, BMW claims.

The i3’s looks remain the same, although the car is now available with the same bright metallic blue paint that has previously been reserved for the i8 sports car. There’s a new standard interior trim, called Atelier, but the old ’Interior worlds’ – Loft and Lodge – are available as options. A further cabin package, called Suite, brings dark oak wood trim on the fascia.

Prices for the new-spec i3 will start at £27,830 (pure EV) and £30,980 (range-extender) after the government plug-in vehicle grant. Despite previous statements suggesting that new technologies would be made available to current i3 owners, BMW says it has no plans to offer the improved battery as an upgrade to existing vehicles.

Source: AutoExpress