Not the most sensible place to post this, but the recent reference to an i3 has made me think again.
.
My X6 is seriously underused and a runabout has been a passing thought for some time, Fiat 500s and early Minis were previous thoughts. The i3 is quirky enough to appeal to me as a second car. The RE version would the only option, and a nice looking 2015 example has appeal, with some 80K miles on it. Battery health is circa 65% which im told would give a range of about 60 miles on full electric dependent on what mode the car was in. By that, im told radio, AC and other things running obviously compromises range. Its VED free status appeals to me, especially as a second car.
Its most distant use would be a circa 55 miles round trip but with winter coming , lights and heater usage will probably make it borderline before needing some petrol influence to get it home. I dont plan on installing dedicated charging at home, so a regular plug and socket would be my only option.
Anyone (Richard?) Have any points or suggestions to offer?
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Possible i3 purchase
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sapphireblack
- Snr Member
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:30 am
- Location: Kent, garden of England
Possible i3 purchase
Last edited by sapphireblack on Fri Oct 11, 2024 3:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Possible i3 purchase
As I think pvr and I may be the only two on here who have gone electric, I can only offer my observations.
Winter range can drop the stated mileage by around 20%. Given the 2019 onwards model has a range of approx 153 miles, you’ll be fine. If looking for earlier then the range drops to around 115 miles as the pre-19 has a slightly smaller battery. Still OK for your round trip distance.
The i3 has a smaller battery than say mine (44kWh against 84kWh) and makes it possible to charge from a domestic 13A socket rather than needing a ‘proper’ charge point. A flat to full charge will take around 20 hours via this method. With a wall box that drops to around 6 hours. Charging at a public rapid charger (at least 50kWh) will give around 100 miles in 30 mins.
Public charging costs vary wildly, but are at least double the price of domestic units. I am on Octopus Intelligent Go and it costs me £0.07p/kWh - or £5.76 for a full charge, so an i3 would be about half that.
The only catch that I have come across is insurance. It’s expensive, so check prices before going electric. My X6 is about £400/year. The i4 is £1,800/year for 15,000 miles. The problem being that many accident repair centres cannot deal with EVs so the cars typically go to main dealers. The same will be true for servicing. That said, there is very little that needs servicing. There are no hit, wet oily bits, no gearbox or transmission. Just a motor and it’s built in reduction gear and diff. Tyres are readily available and the i3 isn’t 4x4 so you can fit non-approved.
Despite the disinformation about battery longevity and fires and all the other rubbish, EV batteries are expected to outlive the car they are mounted to. Especially if looked after. The recommended charging regime is to keep it between 20% & 80% in normal use. If parked up then keep below 50%. 100% can be used if you need to do a longer trip - I use that level to get to my mother who lives 100 miles away around the M25. BMW Batteries are also modular so a complete replacement being required usually means that the whole pack has been subjected to mechanical damage - such as being driven over a kerb, or log or some other object. No one on the forum has reported needing a battery replacement yet, with many owners also having i3s
Fires are much rarer than occur with ICE powered cars. They are more challenging to extinguish that ICE but to be honest I don’t worry about that sort of thing anyway. The i4 forum based in the US has no reported fires amongst BMWs. The recent hurricane in the US has highlighted concerns with fires after flooding but this is cars that have been submerged, in salt water and left. Maybe the brands with the problem need to look at their waterproofing system. I’ve driven the i4 through flooded roads in the last couple of weeks and no problem. Mine can wade through 8” apparently. Not been deeper than 4” simply to avoid any chance of the cameras or front radar/parking sensors being drowned or moved (which results in a dealer visit to recalibrate everything).
Take one for a test drive. You might find it works well for you.
Winter range can drop the stated mileage by around 20%. Given the 2019 onwards model has a range of approx 153 miles, you’ll be fine. If looking for earlier then the range drops to around 115 miles as the pre-19 has a slightly smaller battery. Still OK for your round trip distance.
The i3 has a smaller battery than say mine (44kWh against 84kWh) and makes it possible to charge from a domestic 13A socket rather than needing a ‘proper’ charge point. A flat to full charge will take around 20 hours via this method. With a wall box that drops to around 6 hours. Charging at a public rapid charger (at least 50kWh) will give around 100 miles in 30 mins.
Public charging costs vary wildly, but are at least double the price of domestic units. I am on Octopus Intelligent Go and it costs me £0.07p/kWh - or £5.76 for a full charge, so an i3 would be about half that.
The only catch that I have come across is insurance. It’s expensive, so check prices before going electric. My X6 is about £400/year. The i4 is £1,800/year for 15,000 miles. The problem being that many accident repair centres cannot deal with EVs so the cars typically go to main dealers. The same will be true for servicing. That said, there is very little that needs servicing. There are no hit, wet oily bits, no gearbox or transmission. Just a motor and it’s built in reduction gear and diff. Tyres are readily available and the i3 isn’t 4x4 so you can fit non-approved.
Despite the disinformation about battery longevity and fires and all the other rubbish, EV batteries are expected to outlive the car they are mounted to. Especially if looked after. The recommended charging regime is to keep it between 20% & 80% in normal use. If parked up then keep below 50%. 100% can be used if you need to do a longer trip - I use that level to get to my mother who lives 100 miles away around the M25. BMW Batteries are also modular so a complete replacement being required usually means that the whole pack has been subjected to mechanical damage - such as being driven over a kerb, or log or some other object. No one on the forum has reported needing a battery replacement yet, with many owners also having i3s
Fires are much rarer than occur with ICE powered cars. They are more challenging to extinguish that ICE but to be honest I don’t worry about that sort of thing anyway. The i4 forum based in the US has no reported fires amongst BMWs. The recent hurricane in the US has highlighted concerns with fires after flooding but this is cars that have been submerged, in salt water and left. Maybe the brands with the problem need to look at their waterproofing system. I’ve driven the i4 through flooded roads in the last couple of weeks and no problem. Mine can wade through 8” apparently. Not been deeper than 4” simply to avoid any chance of the cameras or front radar/parking sensors being drowned or moved (which results in a dealer visit to recalibrate everything).
Take one for a test drive. You might find it works well for you.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.Possible i3 purchase
Following on……
Driving an EV is no different to driving an ICE car, with a couple of noteworthy differences.
The first - and most significant - is that you have all the power and all of the torque instantly and all the way to max velocity. If you prod an EVs throttle a little too enthusiastically it will take off like a scared hare. The i3 may ‘only’ have 183bhp, but it’s how it uses it that counts. No ideal rev range or gear to worry about, it is just point and go! It’s quiet too so no engine note to remind you that you may be going a little quickly.
The second is how they stop. Most, and this includes BMW, use Regenerative Braking. This uses the motor(s) as generators and this slows the car down in a very similar way to engine braking in an ICE car. The hydraulic brakes only operate below a certain speed (walking pace for the i4) or if you need to do an emergency stop. Some models - not certain of the i3 - use single pedal driving where you don’t touch the brake pedal at all. The regen is set to max all the time so it feels like you go from ‘power on’ to ‘brakes on’ just by lifting your foot. I use it in heavy traffic but not otherwise, in my case because I don’t drive that way. I’m not a demon late braker! I drive in Eco Pro with Adaptive regen enabled - this is more gentle but adds more regen force as I press harder on the slow pedal.
Depending upon spec, you may have adaptive suspension and multiple driving modes. These change the ride quality and may turn other functions on and off.
Driving an EV is no different to driving an ICE car, with a couple of noteworthy differences.
The first - and most significant - is that you have all the power and all of the torque instantly and all the way to max velocity. If you prod an EVs throttle a little too enthusiastically it will take off like a scared hare. The i3 may ‘only’ have 183bhp, but it’s how it uses it that counts. No ideal rev range or gear to worry about, it is just point and go! It’s quiet too so no engine note to remind you that you may be going a little quickly.
The second is how they stop. Most, and this includes BMW, use Regenerative Braking. This uses the motor(s) as generators and this slows the car down in a very similar way to engine braking in an ICE car. The hydraulic brakes only operate below a certain speed (walking pace for the i4) or if you need to do an emergency stop. Some models - not certain of the i3 - use single pedal driving where you don’t touch the brake pedal at all. The regen is set to max all the time so it feels like you go from ‘power on’ to ‘brakes on’ just by lifting your foot. I use it in heavy traffic but not otherwise, in my case because I don’t drive that way. I’m not a demon late braker! I drive in Eco Pro with Adaptive regen enabled - this is more gentle but adds more regen force as I press harder on the slow pedal.
Depending upon spec, you may have adaptive suspension and multiple driving modes. These change the ride quality and may turn other functions on and off.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.-
sapphireblack
- Snr Member
- Posts: 1772
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 8:30 am
- Location: Kent, garden of England
Possible i3 purchase
I had actually replied to your first forum post, but its clearly gone awol. Not the first time on this forum?
Ive asked for an insurance quote. That could be interesting as my E71 premium doubled this year to over £1200. Despite my protests, the underwriters refused to budge on the costs. If EVs are commanding high premiums, i obviously won't be pursuing a purchase
Ive asked for an insurance quote. That could be interesting as my E71 premium doubled this year to over £1200. Despite my protests, the underwriters refused to budge on the costs. If EVs are commanding high premiums, i obviously won't be pursuing a purchase
Possible i3 purchase
Wow. I’m surprised at the X6 being that expensive, but I suppose post code may be something to do with it.
There’s a suggestion that I’ve seen in the press recently that ALL car insurance is going up in the near future due to the way cars are grouped being replaced….going to 0-99 from 0-50 and different risk profile system being introduced.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/ca ... c-vehicles
Not sure about missing posts on the Forum. I’ll keep an eye out in case there are other reports.
There’s a suggestion that I’ve seen in the press recently that ALL car insurance is going up in the near future due to the way cars are grouped being replaced….going to 0-99 from 0-50 and different risk profile system being introduced.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/ca ... c-vehicles
Not sure about missing posts on the Forum. I’ll keep an eye out in case there are other reports.
Never anthropomorphise computers. They hate that.