Tested - 2017 BMW i3 with bigger battery and range extender

Let the test begin

 
The other day, BMW of Bloomfield in Bloomfield NJ - ask for Chris Chang - offered to allow me to test the new 2017 BMW i3 with the bigger battery and range extender. Color was fluid black.  Let me think about that....ok guys!!  Thank you!!

I jumped at the chance because this was not just a quick run around the dealer block, this was to be a full real world test on the open road over a couple of days.  My open road can consist of quick jaunts that tally 8 miles to the daily commute to my daughter's school totaling 88 miles round trip across some of the worst highways our country has to offer to 100s of miles into the deep NJ wilderness and back.

I chose the middle scenario as this is what racks up the most miles overall on my current 2014 BMW i3 REx or range extender.  My Daughter's school is a haul, it is the only Japanese school close enough to us so we do it.  It is nearly 88 miles round trip, and starts in a beautiful area of NJ and ends up at the George Washington Bridge, all during rush hour and 80% of it on the highway.  A safe, comfortable and economical car is paramount.  We try and drive the i3 as often as possible, especially during warmer weather when range is the best.  Winter we switch to our all wheel drive car which is not an EV.

With our current i3 if we really try we have occasionally made the round trip without the REx kicking on, no mine is not coded and no plans to do so. Getting this range of course is during good weather with a nice flow of traffic. Halley's comment happens more frequent and because of that we usually get a boost at a known spot near the school or stop at one of the DC Fast stations half way back.  Of course, this is why we have a REx, so we can do this without the stress of eeking out every electron and spending hrs at chargers, we focus on going all electric but sometimes time does not permit that.  Can the new bigger battery in the 2017 change that?

Bigger battery - 33kWh

Enter the 2017 BMW i3 with bigger battery.  This battery is 33kWh where our 2016 and earlier i3s were 22kWh - now I'm not going to get into all the technical details of battery chemistry, charge rate, etc, I'll leave that to other reviewers. I'm going to just talk about real world use.  How far can we go and what is it like to drive, and not just me but the Wife and kid too.  After all my current i3 is the family car.

Looks really good in Fluid Black

I'll jump to the chase, I can tell you with confidence this is a 125 mile EV.  I had the family in the car, we had the heat set to 72 and was on eco-pro with one seat heater on, outside temp was low 50s.  I drove 65 to 70 mph and still had oodles of range left.  Just look at the pic below. We were all impressed especially because we usually have 45 miles left after just one way in our current i3, how about that!?

One should easily get 125 miles regularly

How does it drive, well, glad you asked.  The pure electric i3 or BEV is the lightweight being under 3,000 pounds, add the range extender and you've added more weight, like another passenger but the i3 still felt nimble and light.  This 2017 i3 with larger pack and REx is the heaviest of all since you have a denser pack which adds weight, it is also like another passenger.  More weight is not always a bad thing as we soon found out.

With that said, this is not as tossable as my 2014 i3 REx and not as quick off the line or scoots when you punch it, but still plenty quick.  I also noticed the brakes work harder but still grab and regen is less pronounced but only slightly - all due to weight.  I live in an area with lots of hills and twisty's so the tires were definitely working harder on those curves. Range also dipped once on the hills after coming off of the highway, that was new to me since range would increase after exiting the highway on my old i3.   With that said on the highway it was a dream.  That extra weight makes it glide.  It felt more planted on the bumps and whoop-de-doos, my daughter even commented that it was more comfortable for her and my Wife said the same.  The weight has made this more of a GT than sprinter.  Huge plus for a family like us with a long highway drive.

I am also pretty certain BMW added some more sound deadening in places.  With the windows up this is a quieter i3 than mine, it just sounds and feels more cocoon like.  The doors even close with more of a thud - when you are at the dealer try one.  This test car had the optional sunroof.  I have mixed feelings on it, it has a beam in the middle almost like a T-Top.  It does let light in though cuts down on the head room, it is nice to tilt it up for some extra air but it only slides back half way.  The sun shades I also find to be a mixed bag, they are manual and independent of each other.  The ceiling, even with the sunroof, is high, my Wife would not be able to reach up to close the passenger side sunshade while driving if it were left open. The roof is not carbon fiber on the outside, at least in the US with the sunroof.  Overall I would most likely still want this option so I am glad to see it.

Sunshades are independent of each other and manual

Interior is basically the same except for updated iDrive buttons, the knob also felt a little more robust. I did notice that the KENAF fibres along the dash and door panels seemed to have a thicker clear coat on them giving it a smoother feel than my 2014 and less 'Earthy' - I like 'Earthy' - moving on.

iDrive buttons and knob have been upgraded

I even had the opportunity to try it out on a 50kW charger, I am on the $99 all you can eat ChargeNow/EVGo program which gives me 30 min prepaid sessions on many of the 50kW chargers.  It is a bigger battery so the 30 mins did not get me to 90% from close to empty like my older i3 but who cares, it got me over 100 miles ;)  Additionally, while I had the car the REx did go through a maintenance cycle - because it had been sitting at the docks awhile - felt the same and sounded the same.

Got to try it on a 50kW DCFC

Other than that this is the same i3 we have all come to love, but with more range and smoother highway ride - the family approves.  I also want to point out I'm pretty confident even in winter we could make this trip on all electric and still have some miles to spare.  I did nearly 130 with the heat on, it was not 20 out but with proper pre-conditioning round trip should be possible.  This is an i3 game changer

Family approves of the new 2017 with bigger battery and smoother ride

 
So, should you consider one?  What about the new EPA rated 238 mile Bolt?   Shop them, I will but I am pretty certain I will be leaning toward the i3.  The range is not 200 at least not EV only but I am pretty confident the Bolt won't drive like the i3 and the interior in the i3 is higher quality, it is a BMW and feels like one.  I'm a car guy, I like driving the i3 tremendously and so does my family.

So yes, the new 2017 i3 with bigger battery is on our list, I'll probably still opt for the REx since I still do those 100s of miles into the wilderness drives - more on that later.

You shall be missed...for now

I've been REx'd and it is good - mostly

BMW i3 – Second impressions...

I say second impressions because it is not my first stint in the i3, my first was on a race track for 10hrs straight in a couple of pre production units and I was thoroughly impressed.  Now that I have my own I’m even more impressed with this EV as a daily driver.

Tom has already posted his ‘likes/dislikes’ with his new BMW i3 REx so now it is my turn...plus I;ve been asked to ;)

THE LOOKS

Big Like:  There is no getting around that the BMW i3 looks different, it does, but the beauty is in the details, and those details are everywhere.  You just have to look.  Pictures do the i3 no justice.  It is not sleek but it does not need to be…it is functionally attractive.  The right proportions.

With that said the i3 is a magnet.  My ActiveE never drew this much attention.  I’m followed on the highway, thumbs up from passing drivers.  People walk right up to the car to check it out and talk with me.  They want to hear about it, they want to see inside.  They think it is beautiful.  Interesting that so many heard of the i3 and they really like the looks. 

The Solar Orange is perfect for the i3...look how the sun dances.  At Cars and Croissants

Wherever I go the i3 is a magnet

At one point coming back from work and in my parking garage I noticed there was a huge line of cars just stopped….you guessed it….a couple cars in front were looking at the i3.  It is that polarizing and I love that.  I’m also in love with the color, Solar Orange, it changes in the sun, just beautiful.

Mini not so like: all the attention, I can’t catch a break ;)

Here is my new EV ride

Swapping my ActiveE for my new i3

One huge like is how much it holds..filling up

THOSE TIRES

Only from the side I like: those tires are just odd, no getting around that, they are retro, might be even thinner than tires from the 1890s.  They ride fine, handle well but I'm worried about those potholes, can they hold up?  I have the 19s and glad I do.  Oh, and wow they make noise, odd noises especially under hard acceleration.  Just so different and I'm not sure I will ever get used to them

THE RIDE

Big Like: the i3 rides amazingly well, not harsh.  My ActiveE was tiring, not the i3.  It is smooth on the highway and around town.  I’m really glad I went with the standard 19s, roads in NJ are anti-car and I’ve driven an i3 with 20s and you really can feel everything, the 19s look just as good and smooth it out.  On the highway you don’t realize how fast you are going, it just rolls along, very impressive.

Dislike: the car is squirmy on the highway, it is not the sensitive steering...though that enhances it...those skinny tires are rails so whatever it catches along the road it sticks to.  The i3 is also very susceptible to side winds…even cars pulling up along side on the highway push the i3 around with their wind.  Not sure if those are the tires or the higher profile of the car but you really feel it.  The ActiveE was very well planted, of course it was much heavier and less tall

WEIGHT

Like: This car is really nimble on its feet.  It scoots right up hills and wow is it fast.  Same horsepower as the ActiveE but 1,000 pounds less equals woooohooooo!!. 

Dislike: Because it is much lighter it can't hold the momentum like the ActiveE did.  Meaning rolling down a hill is not as effective as the ActiveE was.  It actually slows down, the ActiveE would pick up speed while regenning which was cool

Getting a boost at Park Ave BMW - they have never seen a REx

While at Park Ave they were having a 'Ride and drive' event, first they thought my car was theirs then they took pictures of me after finding out I was an Electronaut...only the 2nd they met and that is not right

THOSE DOORS

Big Like: I like them, cool looking too.  Makes getting my daughter in and out really easy. 

Dislike: not as intuitive as a regular 4 door, can be confusing as to what door opens first and closes last.

ACCELERATION

Big like: people this little EV moves.  No it is not a rocket off the line like a Tesla Model S but once past 10 or 15 it launches.  If you are at 40 and punch it it hauls.  The ActiveE lost breath around 50 but the i3 keeps going, you can feel it build speed and it is so refined in the way it does it.  It really catches people by surprise.

Dislike: it needs to launch more aggressively off the line. 

HANDLING

Like: it handles, initially it does not inspire confidence but give it time and you will see the i3 holds the road.  Those skinny tires are deceptive.  The turning radius is amazing, the steering is a bit heavy and sensitive but after awhile it feels more natural and gives the impression of more heft than the car really has.

Dislike: it leans but only if you push it

REGEN

Sorta like: too weak and seems to have a mind of its own.  A bit unpredictable, the ActiveE was good regen stuff, bring it back.

Advantage of a 5am train

INTERIOR

Huge Like: The i3 was designed around us and this is what sold me, that interior is gorgeous.  People love it.  Tons of room for a small and not so wide car.  The seats are comfortable and lots of room up front and enough in back especially for my Daughter with her child seat.  It even has cargo space.  I chose the Giga, it is a mix of different light colored materials and I love it.

Dislike: no sunroof…seriously guys?

VENTS:
dislike: need more, 4 are not enough, since there are no vents in the rear center console there should be a 3rd in the front center....it gets warm in the back not to mention the front, that windshield is a convection oven.

The vents on the side are just not very good and the adjustment is really limited...the i3 really needs a 3rd vent in the center so rear passengers don't cook

EFFICIENCY

Like: it is really efficient, I’m getting around 90miles per chage with a much smaller pack than the ActiveE had. 90 is pretty good considering I have extra weight with the REx and I’m driving highway speeds often, I was much more careful in the ActiveE but with the i3 I can have a little more fun it seems

Dislike, not nearly as efficient on the highway as the ActiveE was, that’s because it is a bit of a box.  How about a bigger battery BMW?  Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad I have the REx but 150 miles on batt would be great.  I may still have gotten the REx for the emotional back up but I will always want more batt range.

OVERALL

Thumbs up like: I really am liking this EV.  It is comfortable all around, fun to drive and wow does it attract attention – all attributes I really like.  It is extremely refined and that is saying a lot since EVs are refined right off the rack when compared to ICE.  This i3 compared to the ActiveE is a Rolls, I don’t think I’m getting ahead of myself here.  After 600 miles I'm good

Ok so now what...we have the perfect EV?  Not so much....Still needs a few improvements….bigger battery and not so susceptible to side winds and yes, those tires.  Too skinny, I know they are for efficiency but we buy cars on looks, good thing the i3 is an exceptional EV because those tires would ruin the show.

Windshield reflection....wow guys how could you miss this.  The dash material is very cool but it reflects off of the inside of the windshield in a bad way.  Not sure anything can be done about this.  I never noticed it while on the track because it was a cloudy day and never got to chance to test drive the i3 in the real world because we were never give the chance....sure there were those special Electroncaut meetings but it was on a weekday and I could not get out of work and the ride and drive events were not convenient either for me.

The launch experience....I have to say something about this.  BMW, really?  You are lucky your i3 is such an accomplished EV because if I based this on Electronaut to i3 satisfaction, excluding car experience, I would not have an i3….simple.  This is an easy fix…you still have the opportunity to make it right BMW. Communication is all that is needed.  We all know these cars are extremely advanced and things will happen, as long as there is communication from you we are good.

The launch made many of us do this

Preconditioning seems to be a bit of a mystery, I tried pre-conditioning while plugged into my Chargepoint at home. The EVSE was turning on and off while the i3 went through its phase. The ActiveE never did that. I finally just unplugged it.  It might be that the i3 takes what it needs then disengages from the EVSE then re-engages when it needs more.  The clatter it makes is not comforting.

No tinted windows...that would be nice especially since your competitors do it on all cars...you guys just don't.  I am getting used to not having a sunroof because I don't look up, but guys, where is the SOC (State of Charge) and battery temp reading?  That's like yanking the tach and oil pressure gauge out of an M3 or no percentage indicator on your phone....come on now.

Engine warning light....won't even go there

Lots of Ghost In The Shell going on.....some of this should not have been missed, we drove an ActiveE for 2 years or more, plus, a MiniE.  The same issues that these cars had you said you fixed are happening...not good.

There you have it, most of it anyway

EVolution: MiniE to ActiveE to i3

My introduction to EVs began back in the Summer of 2008 when I was lucky enough to be at an event with the AC Propulsion eBox, I even got a chance to drive it, though not very far or fast it was enough for me to realize EVs were something special.  As a car guy performance is key, after hours of rides in the eBox and a brief stint of driving it myself I wanted one, simple.

I got my chance the following year when the MiniE was offered as a field trial by BMW.  When the time came for me to grab one I did not hesitate.  I remember the day I picked it up at the dealer, there it was, just sitting there waiting to be driven.  It was a good looking package, subtle yellow plug graphics, a badge number and a slight hood bulge to clear the electronics underneath, the interior had attractive yellow highlights throughout.  I could not wait to turn it on and drive it.  I quickly signed the papers, grabbed the key, got in and started to roll away.  I was really careful at first, just eased out onto the street, after about 100 feet I floored it….whoa!!!!!!   200+HP and 160+ foot pounds of torque went to the front wheels and I was hanging on….absolutely an amazing silent rush of power, there was no turning back, EVs would now be in my future.  BMW did this one right, the aggressive regen and one pedal driving took about 30 seconds to adjust to and then it became instinct.  Imagine being in 1^st gear all day silently and no vibration, that’s what it’s like.  

As much fun as the MiniE was it had its faults.  The MiniE was truly a conversion, there was no back seat because that was where the 35 kWh battery sat.  Pop the hood and there was a golden box with wires here and there, we were warned not to take it through puddles or car washes….so what, this EV was still a blast to drive.  I loved surprising supposedly quick cars at the light, sure they could take me past 50 but under that I had the distinct advantage of instant power, no need to downshift and silent take off that confused minds.  Nothing felt cooler than stomping the juice pedal at 30mph, breaking the front tires loose and pulling away from the guy behind me in a rush of electrons. 

The MiniE was just raw, meaning it rode firmly, the heater was just adequate and the AC was so-so, not a lot of storage and this was not a car for long trips, even if you could find charging stations, it was a bit tiring to drive long ways.   

Best MiniE moment: I went to the dealer to get my plates and as I got out this guy ran up to me and said "Is that what I think it is, you actually got one?" He was talking on the cell and continued telling me he and his friends have been talking all about this car and never saw one, then he got back on the phone and said "Man you will never guess what I'm standing next to".

Next up was the BMW ActiveE.  This was the 2^nd phase of BMWs EV test program and it was a converted 1 series.  It took me just one brief test drive to realize this car was far more civilized than the MiniE, this one would drive on the highways comfortably.    The ActiveE was down on HP (170) but up on torque (184) and it was also up on weight, a whopping 4,000 pounds, but it was rear wheel drive which made it more sporty.  Fortunately the BMW engineers spent more time tweaking this ride and it drove extremely well for its heft, it glided along the roads effortlessly and you could push it hard in turns.  It felt like it was carved from a solid piece of metal as it had frame reinforcements throughout.  This added to the capabilities of the chassis, it took whatever you could give it.

With that said it was not as fast as the MiniE but much more refined and it handled like a BMW.  The EV also stood out, it had circuit graphics all over it which I really liked.  To help clear the battery up front there was an aggressive hood bulge which many 1M drivers asked how I got.  The interior was a light grey leather with blue highlights, very tasteful.  It also had BMWs iDrive system for gadget fun. 

Since the ActiveE was more of a of a drivers EV I took lots of long trips in the ActiveE, having a standard J1772 did not hurt, and its refinement meant I was not fatigued after a long trip.  I often did 80 miles or more and sometimes I did that daily for months….in the MiniE I probably would not have been as excited to do that.  In fact, in the two years I had the ActiveE I did over 30,000 miles, 80% of that in just over a year until my long commute changed, that is a lot of EV driving and it saved me $1,000s in gasoline costs.  The ActiveE actually became the main car for me and my family…my red sports car sat in the garage.  

Those graphics on the car made it a real stand-out, unmistakable that this was a special BMW.  Often I’d be approached or even followed, police too, so they could get a close look at it.  Folks in my town knew me by my car, I showed it wherever I could, it was an amazing experience all around.  Unfortunately the party has to end and the ActiveE will be going back.

Best ActiveE moment: driving to a Cars and Croissants, NJ exotic car meet, for the first time with my ActiveE and having 8 to 10 people running behind me before I even got a chance to park and talk to me about the car.

The ActiveE was a great car but there was something even better, worlds ahead, just around the corner, the BMW i3.

Admittedly when I first laid eyes on the i3 I was like…oh no way, how could they make it look like that, it does not scream BMW but econo-hatch.  Well over the weeks of seeing pictures and getting an up close and personal look at the car I began to like it more.  There are a lot of details, you just need to find them.  My last concern were those tires, talk about retro, like 1907 retro, those were some skinny tires, how in the world can this EV even ride on those.   I soon got a chance to find out and on a racetrack.   Yes a racetrack, BMW asked me if I’d be interested in riding around in the i3 on a racetrack with a professional race car driver…..ummmm let me think about that…OK!!

I won’t go into details of that racetrack day, you can read all about it on my blog www.myactivee.blogspot.com but I will say I was extremely impressed, as was the pro driver, Erin Crocker.

I can tell you the BMW i3 is indeed worlds ahead of the ActiveE and makes the MiniE feel like a soap box.  It is fast, it has the same power as the ActiveE but is over 1,000 pounds less in weight.   Other than being flung around in the i3 for hours at its limit I also got to drive it.  As soon as I pressed the accelerator I could tell this was a finely tuned EV, it just felt right.  The power is linear, the regen steps in seamlessly, the steering is connected to you and those brakes are incredible.  The i3 rides extremely well and yes, even with those skinny tires, it handles like it’s on rails.  The interior is roomier than you would expect and the carbon fiber details are really cool. 

Best i3 moment: track day….all of it

The i3 is packed with tech, from it’s cool features to the carbon fiber shell to the modern interior to its ability to hold the track.  I was seriously impressed.  Just one thing was missing, no hood bulge.

The EV had evolved into a seriously interesting daily performance driver in less than 5 years.  My Solar Orange BMW i3 REx will hopefully blend into this background very soon.