# Test Drive Results BMW i3 Electric Car with Range Extender (REx)

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2017/12/bmw-i3-electric-car-review/
- Published: 2017-12-12T01:18:41-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

**_Wrote it 08/15/2017 11:00 am ET Updated Sep 08, 2017_**

_Here’s a snippet:_

The last time I test drove the BMW i3 electric was in 2015. Actually, it was Super
Bowl weekend; when they launched the car with [Bryant Gumbel and Katie Couric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/01/bmw-i3-debut-featuring-katie-couric-and-bryant-gumbel/).
The commercial tried to show how this vehicle Is ICONIC comparing it to their discussions
about the internet on the Today Show.

To prove it, here’s a copy of the page on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/yktAEMNo1X/).
It was funny because the day we got the car there was no snow, then you see this
which was the day after the Super Bowl.

So even though the EV range was limited, the i3 today is able to recharge and fast
charge. Speed up now to 2017 (July / August) and here the newer version with that
94Ah which are amp hours and a Range Extender Package too. The range extender is
a gas component connected to a 34hp [motor that powers the electric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2015/02/uqm-technologies-wins-4-million-doe-grant/)
motor. Therefore, the [electric motor powers the entire car](https://greenlivingguy.com/green-living-resources-eco-friendly-products/electric-car-news/).
So while things look the same on the outside, it’s not the same car from 2015.
 
The batteries are located underneath the car (at the bottom of the [car which makes this electric](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/11/revenge-of-the-electric-car-is-out-in-theatres/)
vehicle hug the ground and be more stable) and also went from 0 to 60 mph in around
6.5 seconds. The EPA estimates a battery-only range of 114 miles yet folks we got
ranges closer to 125 to 150 so again I don’t know what the EPA is talking about!.

To start, let’s show you the beautiful inside here with the doors of steel; or should
I say carbon fiber. Those lines in the door area are all carbon fibers. They are
very light but don’t try to punch the frame because you’ll break your fingers. Carbon
fibers are extremely strong and further ensure safety with fuel economy. There are
carbon fibers everywhere in this car where steel or aluminum might have been. Without
a doubt a much safer and better choice.

> **_  ..EPA estimates a battery-only range of 114 miles yet folks we got ranges
> closer to 125 to 150 so again I don’t know what the EPA is talking about!._**
> **_To start, let’s show you the beautiful inside here with the doors of steel;
> or should I say carbon fiber. Those lines in the door area are all carbon fibers.
> They are very light but don’t try to punch the frame because you’ll break your
> fingers. Carbon fibers are extremely strong and further ensure safety with fuel
> economy. There are carbon fibers everywhere in this car where steel or aluminum
> might have been. Without a doubt a much safer and better choice!_**

Now there were a few cool things about the car and some things which were difficult
since it was a demo car. Back then, I was not able to re charge the battery but 
could refuel. So I said ok! It was loud and noisy 1hp gas motor directly powering
the electric motor. It was also in the winter too, but here’s the trick. It was 
roomy , spacious and comfortable in the middle of a New York winter. We were able
to recharge the car off the fuel so it did have a 70 plus mile range with another
75 miles of range.

**_ thanks to Chris Neff for counsel on EPA and motor specs. _**

![](https://i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/img_3051.jpg?
resize=630%2C472&quality=52&ssl=1 "img_3051 - The Green Living Guy")


The interior is a whole other experience in this car. As [US News and World Reports](https://web.archive.org/web/20170527122839/https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/bmw/i3),
he i3 has seats for four, and there’s plenty of space no matter which seat you choose.
The front seats are comfortable and mounted high in the cabin, giving those in the
front a commanding view of the road ahead. The back seats have sufficient head- 
and legroom, but getting into them is complicated by the i3’s suicide-style rear
doors. You must first open the front door before you can open the back door. The
i3’s floor is fairly high off the ground, making it a bit tricky for children or
passengers with mobility issues to climb in.
 Also the cabin “combines eco-friendliness
with a futuristic design that matches the EV’s state-of-the-art powertrain. The 
cabin has smart styling that’s fitted with [green materials like recycled cloth](https://greenlivingguy.com/2007/03/organic-clothes-show-green-is-the-new-black/)
and responsibly forested wood trims. Most of the cabin feels high-end, but depending
on your tastes, you may find that some of the recycled materials feel more low-rent
than the trim pieces used in other German-badged vehicles.”

As [BMW](https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/bmwi/i3/sedan/overview.html) stated:

Manufactured in BMW’s most sustainable auto plant, the BMW i3 production process
uses 50% less energy and 70% less water — and that’s just the beginning. The interior
uses cutting-edge architecture and over 25% of renewable and recycled materials.
Up to four passengers can enjoy its spaciousness—equivalent to the BMW 3 Series.
Plus, the LifeDrive architecture allows for the B-pillar and center console to be
removed, creating even more openness.
 Now what’s wrong with the car? Cost. It doesn’t
compare with the competition. Even some Plugin hybrids it doesn’t compare to. So
if you want the spacious foreign electric car this is for you. Yet if you don’t 
want to pay a premium there are other options and you probably are headed in that
general direction. However, $329 a month ($3,000 down) for a lease wouldn’t be so
bad I guess. Other cool Features The BMW i3 uses the BMW eDrive rear-wheel drive
powertrain previously found on the BMW ActiveE. eDrive offers driving dynamics. 
Power is sent to the rear wheels through a single-speed transmission, allowing the
BMW i3 to accelerate with an uninterrupted flow of power up to its top speed. Its
small size had an amazing turning radius in the City of NY making parking in tight
spaces much easier. Its sharp turning radius and nimble handling are the perfect
match for city driving. In the front, the Slide Through Experience allows the driver
to slide through the car and exit on the passenger side, to avoid exiting into a
busy city street. This is made possible because of the absence of the transmission
tunnel. The coach doors make getting into and out of the car much more practical
by eliminating the B pillar and creating one large opening to enter and exit. So
again if you want a $40,000 comfortable, easy to charge and smooth electric car,
the BMW i3 is for you!


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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
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