Our Fleet Test Drive: BMW i3 - 4th report
Date:
30 July 2015
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Author: Guy Bird
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| Why we're running it: | To see if this EV cuts in beyond the theory | | Equipment: | 6 airbags, stability and cornering brake control, hill-start assist, auto aircon, electric windows, leather-covered multi-function steering wheel, satnav, Bluetooth hands-free facility with USB, 50:50 split-fold rear seats, rear park distance control, 19in streamline star alloys, halogen headlights | | Options: | Lodge trim (£1500), 19in turbine alloys (£680), Harmon Kardon hi-fi (£640), DC rapid charge prep (£560), silver metallic paint (£530), Enhanced Bluetooth with USB (£350), internet (£95) | | Media Package - BMW Professional (£960), Park assist package inc. colour reversing cam (£790), Winter package inc. heated | | front seats (£260), Online Entertainment (£190) |
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Longer trips take planning in an i3. With a coastal campsite 60 miles away (and a realistic electric range of 60-80 miles), I checked the availability of the campsite's three-pin plug for an overnight 're-fill' so I could drive fully electricly there and back (preserving the range-extender's 60-80-mile 'back-up tank' of unleaded just in case). The key is choosing the right driving mode.
The i3 has three: Comfort (which basically means 'drive how you want and the car will do its best'), Eco Pro (70mph cap, but easily overridden) and Eco Pro+ (56mph limit and aircon deactivated - pictured). In town, Eco Pro+ is perfect (open the windows a bit if it's hot), and on motorways Eco Pro results in almost no compromise to driving style - unless you like speeding.
At one point on the way (with the destination in the satnav) a message popped up on my centre screen that said something like "in your current [Comfort] driving mode you do not have sufficient range to get to your destination".
A bit scary, but honest. After flipping to Eco Pro I was miraculously back in range. Best of all, the switch didn't take away all accelerator oomph or dial-in harsher re-gen braking. In fact, it all felt pretty normal, and I got there with a dozen, almost comfortable, miles to spare.
BMW i3 Range Extender
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| Mileage 1850 |
| Official consumption |
470.8mpg |
| Our average consumption 887.0mpg |
| Forecast/actual CPM 59.1p/56.4p |
| P11D price |
£35,575* |
| Model price range |
£30,925-35,575* |
| Residual value 39.1% |
| Depreciation cost £21,675 |
| Fuel £1670 |
| Service, maintenance and repair £1722 |
| Vehicle Excise Duty £0 |
| National Insurance £1031 |
| CO2 (tax) |
13g/km/5% |
| BIK 20/40% per month |
£28/£57 |
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Verdict
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- Eco groundbreaking design and engineering
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- Learning new driving and refuelling skills
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