Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular these days, and there are many to choose from. We first saw mass-produced hybrid cars enter the market in the late 1990’s and now we are seeing fully electric automobiles. It seems that nearly all major car manufactures are putting out a fully-electric vehicle nowadays, and the i3 is BMW’s. Okay sure there’s the i8 as well, but that’s in a different class at $135,700 dollars.
First introduced as a concept in 2011, and then as a production vehicle in 2013, the i3 is BMW’s first mass-produced, fully-electric automobile. Orders were fulfilled in May of 2014, and the i3 offers a lot. The i3 is marketed as an urban electric vehicle. This hatchback excels at quick car rides, and is really made for those driving around a major city. It’s small, lightweight, and relatively efficient at what it does. The vehicle has also won a few awards including the 2014 World Green Car of The Year and the 2014 World Car Design of The Year.
The i3 starts at $42,300 dollars before government subsidies, and you really get a lot of car. First the car is considerably more affordable that other fully-electric vehicles, like the Tesla Model S. The car also features modern design elements, and makes extensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum that can be found throughout the cars body and frame. The vehicle is powered by a 130 kW electric motor and a 18.5 kWh li-ion battery. This battery offers the car 170 horsepower. Additionally for around $3,800 more, a small 647cc engine can be added to the car to extend its range. Normally the car can travel between 80 to 100 miles, but with the extender it can reach 150 miles. While that isn’t great for road-trips, its perfect for traversing a major city or urban area. The i3’s battery can also be charged in two hours using a 240-volt charger. The car can also be charged with a normal AC adapter, however that will take longer.
The interior is pretty straightforward and utilitarian; it won’t win any luxury awards however it does the job. This car isn’t supposed to be a luxury vehicle so for what it is, a simple and functional electric vehicle, the interior is fine.
The vehicle also features many cool technological features. There are only two pedals, and you can theoretically only use the right pedal. The i3 has an advanced kinetic regenerative system that not only helps put electricity back into the battery, but it also slows the car down significantly. So all you have to do is take the foot off the “gas” and the car will slow down, if not you just use the left pedal as a conventional brake. The dashboard is also very progressive and you will find many pleasant BMW features built in that will leave you surprised. At the end of the day, while the i3 isn’t the fastest or best looking electric car, it is arguably the best option for what its made for: a modern, urban vehicle. When you look at the i3 under that lens, it really is pretty great.
Photos from BMW
