BMW i3 with range-extending engine specs announced

The BMW i3 Concept Coupe marks its European premiere in Geneva, while the BMW i8 Concept Spyder also makes an appearance. Vehicle range and charging infrastructure are a frequent subject of discussion as key factors in electric mobility. With its eDrive powertrain, the BMW i3 is designed to require a battery recharge just once every two to three days in typical commuting use. That equates to a range of between 130 and 160 kilometres (80 to 100 miles). The drive system and all other vehicle functions in the BMW i3 are powered by a specially developed high-voltage lithium-iron battery, a hallmark of which is that its energy output – and thus the vehicle’s range – is less vulnerable to temperature fluctuations than is generally the case with such batteries today. Another priority when it came to designing the BMW i3 was to reduce the energy consumption of electrical components in the car, while the use of various driving modes can boost the range by up to 25 per cent. As the BMW i3 is also the world’s first fully networked electric vehicle, drivers are repeatedly updated with realistic estimates of the car’s range. If desired, they can also ask the system to display charging stations in the vicinity of the destination, with a further press of a button sufficing to reserve a slot. What’s more, the system informs the driver how long it will take to charge the vehicle for the return journey or to travel to a further destination. An optional range extender is also available, increasing the driving range to approximately 300 kilometres (186 miles).