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- BMW i3 (94 Ah) with more powerful battery (33 kWh).
- Up to 114 mile combined1 (hwy/city) range under everyday conditions.
- New BMW Home Charger Connect offering additional comfort and connected functions.
The BMW i will
offer a new model range of its compact electric car, the BMW i3 and from the
2017 model year will be offering a new version with more than 50% increased
battery capacity. The 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) has a capacity of 33 kilowatt hours
(kWh) thanks to the higher energy density of the lithium ion cells. The BMW i
team worked to ensure that the battery dimensions remain unchanged while still
offering a significant range increase. Even in everyday conditions 2, the new
Battery Electric BMW i3, in varying weather conditions and with the air conditioning
or heating turned on, a range of up to 114 miles combined1 (hwy/city) is
possible as shown by independent BMW testing cycles3. The driving performance
figures of the 170 hp AC synchronous electric motor remain virtually unchanged.
The motor propels the BMW i3 from 0 to 60 mph in just over 7 seconds. This
makes the BMW i3 both the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in its
segment with an expected EPA electricity consumption of 27 kWh/100mi. In
addition to the Battery Electric BMW i3, the Range Extender model will also
feature the 94 Ah battery. When equipped with the Range Extender, if the driver
requires additional range, the 2-cylinder gasoline engine is switched on once
the battery is depleted to 6.5% state of charge and keeps the charge level of
the battery constant while driving and provides an additional range thanks to a
25% larger fuel tank (2.4 gallons). With the introduction of the BMW i3 (94
Ah), BMW i now also offers a new BMW Home Charger Connect, a residential
charging station designed for comfortable and fast home charging featuring
additional connected functions. Pricing for the 2017 BMW i3 (94 Ah) will be
released closer to market launch.
A
little history on the update i3. The vehicle concept behind the BMW i3 was
designed from the outset to incorporate an all-electric drive system. BMW
stated it had numerous advantages over “conversion” vehicles, in which the
original combustion engine is swapped for an electric motor. The engineers can
design whatever works best, in terms of construction, dimensions and
configuration of the electric drive system’s components. The car’s development
is dictated by the characteristics designed into the car by the development
team and not by the constraints imposed by a pre-existing vehicle design.
This leads to BMW’s LifeDrive architecture concept, which was purpose-built specifically for the BMW i3. It is comprised of two modules; the Life Module, and the Drive Module. Think of the Life Module as the passenger cabin, or greenhouse. It is the first-ever mass produced Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) passenger cell in the automotive business, and is a big factor in the cars efficiency. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic is equally as strong as steel, while being 50% lighter, and 30% lighter than aluminum. The result is an electric car that weighs about 2,700 lbs .
This leads to BMW’s LifeDrive architecture concept, which was purpose-built specifically for the BMW i3. It is comprised of two modules; the Life Module, and the Drive Module. Think of the Life Module as the passenger cabin, or greenhouse. It is the first-ever mass produced Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) passenger cell in the automotive business, and is a big factor in the cars efficiency. Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic is equally as strong as steel, while being 50% lighter, and 30% lighter than aluminum. The result is an electric car that weighs about 2,700 lbs .
Due
to the lightweight, high tensile strength of CFRP, the passenger cell has added
protection, and the battery has less work to do, which allows for the use of a
smaller, lighter battery that saves even more weight, reduces charging time and
increases range. The light weight design of the Life Module also lowers the BMW
i3’s center of gravity, making it a more engaging and dynamic car to drive.
The Drive Module, which is constructed out of 100% aluminum, consists of the 22-kWh, 450 lb. lithium-ion battery, electric drive train, MacPherson strut and 5-link rear suspension system and structural and crash components. The battery mounted in the rear, close to the drive wheels, gives impressive performance characteristics while also providing better traction.
Another benefit of BMW’s LifeDrive architecture concept is that there is no space-consuming transmission tunnel running through the center of the car, like in most internal combustion powered cars, because of the separate Drive Module. This gives the BMW i3 the interior space of the BMW 3 Series, while only having the footprint of the much smaller BMW 1 Series.
Even the vehicle’s key is sustainably manufactured. The source material of the new bio-polymer key is based on castor oil pressed from castor seeds. The owner’s manual is also made from renewable resources.
The interior is made using high quality renewable sources and recycled materials. The BMW i3 has the Next Premium interior, which blends sustainable resources with a premium feel for the same interior quality as the BMW 5 Series Sedan. 25% of the plastics in the interior and 25% of the thermoplastic parts on the exterior are made from either recycled materials or renewable sources.
According to studies carried out as part of BMW’s Project i, involving more than 1,000 participants and conducted over some 12.5 million miles, it was revealed that the average daily distance covered was around 30 miles. The BMW i3 will be able to travel 80 to 100 miles on a single charge. This can be increased by up to approximately 12% in ECO PRO mode and by the same amount again in ECO PRO+ mode. It is able to recharge in only 3 hours with the use of a 220V Level 2, 32-amp J1772 charger. The SAE DC Combo Fast Charging, which charges the BMW i3 up to 80% in 20 minutes, and 100% in 30, can be had as an option.
In order to reduce range anxiety, a rear-mounted 650cc, 34 hp, two-cylinder, gasoline-powered Range Extender generator is available, which roughly doubles the vehicle’s range. When the battery gets to a certain level, the Range Extender starts and maintains the battery’s current state of charge. The Range Extender never directly drives the vehicle’s wheels. The Range Extender adds roughly 330 lbs. to the vehicle curb weight and has a fuel capacity of 2.4 gallons.
We look forward to driving the 2017 i3 in the near future. A more in depth review will be published after our drive experience.
The Drive Module, which is constructed out of 100% aluminum, consists of the 22-kWh, 450 lb. lithium-ion battery, electric drive train, MacPherson strut and 5-link rear suspension system and structural and crash components. The battery mounted in the rear, close to the drive wheels, gives impressive performance characteristics while also providing better traction.
Another benefit of BMW’s LifeDrive architecture concept is that there is no space-consuming transmission tunnel running through the center of the car, like in most internal combustion powered cars, because of the separate Drive Module. This gives the BMW i3 the interior space of the BMW 3 Series, while only having the footprint of the much smaller BMW 1 Series.
Even the vehicle’s key is sustainably manufactured. The source material of the new bio-polymer key is based on castor oil pressed from castor seeds. The owner’s manual is also made from renewable resources.
The interior is made using high quality renewable sources and recycled materials. The BMW i3 has the Next Premium interior, which blends sustainable resources with a premium feel for the same interior quality as the BMW 5 Series Sedan. 25% of the plastics in the interior and 25% of the thermoplastic parts on the exterior are made from either recycled materials or renewable sources.
According to studies carried out as part of BMW’s Project i, involving more than 1,000 participants and conducted over some 12.5 million miles, it was revealed that the average daily distance covered was around 30 miles. The BMW i3 will be able to travel 80 to 100 miles on a single charge. This can be increased by up to approximately 12% in ECO PRO mode and by the same amount again in ECO PRO+ mode. It is able to recharge in only 3 hours with the use of a 220V Level 2, 32-amp J1772 charger. The SAE DC Combo Fast Charging, which charges the BMW i3 up to 80% in 20 minutes, and 100% in 30, can be had as an option.
In order to reduce range anxiety, a rear-mounted 650cc, 34 hp, two-cylinder, gasoline-powered Range Extender generator is available, which roughly doubles the vehicle’s range. When the battery gets to a certain level, the Range Extender starts and maintains the battery’s current state of charge. The Range Extender never directly drives the vehicle’s wheels. The Range Extender adds roughly 330 lbs. to the vehicle curb weight and has a fuel capacity of 2.4 gallons.
We look forward to driving the 2017 i3 in the near future. A more in depth review will be published after our drive experience.
BRUCE
HUBBARD
BONNIE
LYNCH
JB
WELKER
BRADLEY
HUBBARD
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