Page 26 - ElectriCar Magazine

An improved battery pack with more capacity than the previous model resulting in an increase of its range to 114 miles
BMW i3 is a five-door urban electric car developed
by the German car manufacturer BMW. The i3 is part of BMW’s “Project i” and was launched as a new
brand, BMW i. The i3 is BMW’s first zero emissions mass-produced vehicle due to its electric powertrain, and BMW is the first company to launch a volume production vehicle on the market featuring Carbon-Fiber reinforced polymer to improve the vehicle’s energy consumption. Until late 2016, the i3 was the most fuel efficient EPA- certified vehicle of all years regardless of fuel type, while the i3 REx continues to rank as the most efficient EPA- certified current year vehicle with
a gasoline engine in terms of its combined gasoline/electricity rating.
The i3’s official range is 130 to 80 to 100 miles for the battery option under the New European Driving Cycle, and up to 120 miles in the most efficient driving mode. Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency cycle the official range is 81 miles
with combined fuel economy of 124
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miles per gallon gasoline equivalent MPGe 1.90 L. BMW is offering a range extender option powered by a 647 cc two-cylinder gasoline engine with a small fuel tank that engages when the battery level drops to a pre-specified point, acting purely as
The i3 ranked as the world’s third best selling All-Electric car in history with more than 65,000 units sold worldwide, winning two World Car of the Year Awards
a generator to produce electricity to extend the range to 150 miles for the model under the EPA test cycle.
In mid 2016, BMW released the 2017 model year i3 with an improved battery pack with fifty percent more capacity than the previous model resulting in an increase of its range to 114 miles under the EPA cycle,
and 190 miles under the NEDC test. The Range Extender variant also features the same higher capacity battery as the All-Electric model, with a corresponding All-Electric range increase to 97 miles under EPA testing cycle, for a total range of 180 miles.
The i3 concept car was unveiled
at the 2011 International Motor Show Germany. and the production version was unveiled in July 2013. Mass production of the i3 began in late 2013 and retail deliveries started
in the United States in May 2014. Pricing in the United States started
at $42,275 before any government incentives, and the range extender option costs an additional $3,850.00. Pricing starts at 47,195.00 before
the applicable government grant.
The i3 ranked third among All- Electric cars sold worldwide for three years running, from 2014 to 2016. Global i3 sales passed the 50,000 unit milestone in mid 2016. Three years after its introduction, the i3
is the top selling BMW electrified model, representing sixty percent
of combined BMW i and BMW
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