Wow, some highway trips that I can do in the Model S, I wouldn't be successful doing in an i3! There aren't enough gas stations along the route!!!
You can install our site as a web app on your iOS device by utilizing the Add to Home Screen feature in Safari. Please see this thread for more details on this.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
If it started at 130-150 miles of EV range, I would consider not being a Gen III waiter (although it being a "city car" is still a big issue for me; I want at the very least a true 4 doors and 5 seats). As it is now it's a no go for me.If the i3 would have started with 130-150 miles of EV range it would've been a "no brainer" as it is... We're still waiting to see what the deal would be for Active E participants.
It's not that you can't find a station, it's the time it takes to get off the freeway, drive to it, pull in, enter payment information, then fuel, then get back into freeway again. I don't think it results in just a 5 minute delay (unless you were treating it like a race and rushing through the process and there's no wait anywhere along the way).Granted – I’ve never been on a US freeway. In Sweden it wouldn’t be that much of a problem. Here, there are plenty of gas stations no further than two or three golf drives away from the freeway…
So assuming there are enough gas stations along the route, which there seems to be in the US, but apparently not everywhere in (Oh,) Canada ( ), how long would you estimate for the average i3 REx highway fill up if you aren't 'racing'?…/ It's not that you can't find a station, it's the time it takes to get off the freeway, drive to it, pull in, enter payment information, then fuel, then get back into freeway again. I don't think it results in just a 5 minute delay (unless you were treating it like a race and rushing through the process and there's no wait anywhere along the way).
Off the top of my head, I'm guessing about 9 minutes (assuming the station is 2 minutes away from freeway and 5 minutes at station). It may take longer if the station is farther, if there are any stoplights/stop signs, a line, or if you consider time lost preparing for the exit.So assuming there are enough gas stations along the route, which there seems to be in the US, but apparently not everywhere in (Oh,) Canada ( ), how long would you estimate for the average i3 REx highway fill up if you aren't 'racing'?
So assuming there are enough gas stations along the route, which there seems to be in the US, but apparently not everywhere in (Oh,) Canada ( ), how long would you estimate for the average i3 REx highway fill up if you aren't 'racing'?
I'm curious what exactly they did get out of the ActiveE program. The timing seemed wrong to actually influence the i3 in any way. Having less range than the ActiveE seems to me a major step backwards. They spent a lot of effort on "adding lightness", but it doesn't seem to have paid off with a better EV.I, as well as other participants in the Active E program, also pointed out that perhaps they should have just shoved some more batteries where the REX void and gas tank would be and provide the i3 with more range! If the i3 would have started with 130-150 miles of EV range it would've been a "no brainer" as it is... We're still waiting to see what the deal would be for Active E participants.
I'm curious what exactly they did get out of the ActiveE program. The timing seemed wrong to actually influence the i3 in any way. Having less range than the ActiveE seems to me a major step backwards. They spent a lot of effort on "adding lightness", but it doesn't seem to have paid off with a better EV.
The i3 has a frunk, I think. A red plastic gas can would probably fit nicely in there.Wow, some highway trips that I can do in the Model S, I wouldn't be successful doing in an i3! There aren't enough gas stations along the route!!!
They haven't released official numbers as far as I know. My impression from reviews and vague BMW statements is that it will likely get around the same combined EPA estimate as the Volt which is 37 mpg.Regarding the Volt: The refueling nuisance aside, do we know which one of the i3 REx and the Volt that is the more fuel efficient for longer trips?
Saying it is limited to 44mph when the battery is low isn't the whole story.Its performance literally sucks when you get low (limited to 44mph while on highway when you get too low?? That is DANGEROUS.)
All of the changes suggested there seem to be to allow the Volt to qualify as a BEVx. If they only remove one provision (the APU range limit) that's already enough to make the car much more useful while keeping the "spirit" of law. But with all three, it's easy to see why CARB doesn't want to allow those changes.
Much more likely is that he just drove in his normal dumb driving style (i.e. not very eco) and drained the buffer.
You say you want facts... well, as far as I can see, there no real-world, owner-driver, facts yet that the i3 will or will not perform as you say it will inspite of your convincing argument and figures. Also, there is no evidence yet that in real-world, normal and legal driving that you won't still drain the buffer.
I would prefer to see us all keep an open mind in amongst our speculations until people have owned one and reported what they find. Any media reviews or even test drive reviews, are likely not to properly represent an owner experience. It will be interesting to see if your total faith in the numbers actually holds up in the real-world driving experience.
As for the argument that BMW have spent a lot and therefore should know what they are talking about... I own two EVs, a Leaf and a Ampera (Volt), and I can assure you that many aspects of the pre-launch PR or reviews didn't transfer over to the real-world. The main one being range, and so I am naturally skeptical over the BMW claims over the i3. Sorry.
The Range EXTENDER
A clever seamless bit of kit that allowed me to drive over 200 miles that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. The range extender kicks in and the car drives as normal with no restrictions, I could keep on going providing I didn't mind stopping for fuel all the time. It has stop start technology that cuts the engine when you stop or drive below 10mph so people don't hear you have an engine. You can sometimes hear it, it found the stop start technology drew to my attention it was running and when it stops. It also seemed to work very hard at times, you could clearly hear the engine when it was and feel the vibrations in your feet. On the motorway when pushed the engine will also work hard, it didn't sound to different to my normal car. Also when I pulled up to the house it didn't cut out and you could clearly hear the engine outside. Overall I liked what it gave and how there was no dip in performance, 80% of the time I couldn't hear the engine running. This won't be an option I will be ticking as I think a BEv will meet our needs, we also have a second car for longer journeys.