i3 Range and the weather

[RossP]

I had a trip from home to a customer today, straight down the A50. It's 28 miles door to door.

I preconditioned the car and then drove all the way there at around 65mph in Eco Pro+ mode. I used about a third of the battery.

On the way back, I allowed myself the extravagance of comfort mode, heated seats and 75mph. Got back with 6 miles remaining range. So that's 56+6=62 miles.

I actually think that's okay but it definitely did better in the summer.

[ChrisW.]

The energy required to heat and light the car has to come from somewhere --- and the batteries are less efficient at lower temperatures --- maybe BMW would have ben wise to mention this.

[Welshbeef]

RossP said:

I had a trip from home to a customer today, straight down the A50. It's 28 miles door to door.

I preconditioned the car and then drove all the way there at around 65mph in Eco Pro+ mode. I used about a third of the battery.

On the way back, I allowed myself the extravagance of comfort mode, heated seats and 75mph. Got back with 6 miles remaining range. So that's 56+6=62 miles.

I actually think that's okay but it definitely did better in the summer.

So pay £30k for a car and then be worrying/compromising comfort on daily trips.... Not great is it.



Tesla range for commuting is never an issue

[RossP]

It was more of an experiment really. I've done 9,500 miles in it since March and never had any range problems or anxiety.

Oh, and running it as a company car it's virtually free and TBH I love it!

[oop north]

Welshbeef said:

RossP said:

I had a trip from home to a customer today, straight down the A50. It's 28 miles door to door.

I preconditioned the car and then drove all the way there at around 65mph in Eco Pro+ mode. I used about a third of the battery.

On the way back, I allowed myself the extravagance of comfort mode, heated seats and 75mph. Got back with 6 miles remaining range. So that's 56+6=62 miles.

I actually think that's okay but it definitely did better in the summer.

So pay £30k for a car and then be worrying/compromising comfort on daily trips.... Not great is it.


Tesla range for commuting is never an issue

For the cost of a tesla I could have an i3 and a five series (for much longer trips than a tesla ca manage). There's no point saying a twice as expensive car has a better range... I do quite fancy a tesla (drove one last Saturday) but the cost is mad and they keep changing the price every few days and I am not convinced I could manage longer trips without hassle getting recharged (though I have met an owner who travels round England in his very regularly

[Welshbeef]

RossP said:

It was more of an experiment really. I've done 9,500 miles in it since March and never had any range problems or anxiety.

Oh, and running it as a company car it's virtually free and TBH I love it!

I wonder what the higherst miles EV i3 is to date?
Totally get the first movers benefits of zero BIK.

[skilly1]

I must be up there - done 17k miles so far.

[RossP]

skilly1 said:

I must be up there - done 17k miles so far.

That's good going? BEV or REx?

[skilly1]

Rex, put around £200 of fuel in so far !

[TimJMS]

Jesus I thought I was doing well on 9,500 miles. Approx 8,500 on electric.

[Welshbeef]

How will the i3 cope with high flood levels where in most cars we wade through with the odd diesel car getting hydraulic lock is fairly deep water simply a do not go on the i3?

[mids]

Welshbeef said:

How will the i3 cope with high flood levels where in most cars we wade through with the odd diesel car getting hydraulic lock is fairly deep water simply a do not go on the i3?

The handbook says the i3 is ok up to a depth of 25cm (10 inches) and you can see the battery pack fully submerged in one of the testing videos.

http://insideevs.com/video-bmw-i3-safe-zero-emissi...

http://youtu.be/LCNKfhq59HY

If you're still not convinced just make sure you're not touching the water with your feet when you see an i3 about to go through a puddle ;-)

[Amateurish]

9k miles here, all but about 200 on electric.

[RossP]

Do any of you REx owners regret going down that route? I am happy with my BEV choice - it works for me but I appreciate that it's not for everyone.

[Welshbeef]

RossP said:

Do any of you REx owners regret going down that route? I am happy with my BEV choice - it works for me but I appreciate that it's not for everyone.

Surely BEV cannot be a sole car option for a household whereas you could make a REX one - though I guess the answer is hire a car for long trips job done.

[Don]

Welshbeef said:

Surely BEV cannot be a sole car option for a household whereas you could make a REX one - though I guess the answer is hire a car for long trips job done.

Nissan will even loan you one F.O.C. as a LEAF owner.

Back in the day the wife and I drove our TVR and my Porsche as daily drivers. Two two seater cars. Every time the parents visited I just went out and hired a Vectra/Omega.

When my current (owned) Veccy expires I won't replace it. I'll just rent/borrow Nissan's when I need one. That and the two sports cars still work...!

[RossP]

Welshbeef said:

Surely BEV cannot be a sole car option for a household whereas you could make a REX one - though I guess the answer is hire a car for long trips job done.

I didn't say it was our sole car! However, it is our most used car...

[toys]

RossP said:

I didn't say it was our sole car! However, it is our most used car...

Exactly the same for our household - if there is a choice why take the car that costs eight times more per mile!

[Amateurish]

On my 60 mile morning commute (which is pretty consistent in terms of speed and driving characteristics), I am finding about a 10% fall in efficiency due to the weather. My average has gone from 4.3 to 3.9 mi/kwh. The equates to a range drop from 81 to 73 miles. I do not have winter pack (so no preheating of the battery) but I do precondition the car every morning. Morning temperatures recently have been around the 5 degree mark.

[RossP]

I'm not convinced about the battery preheating. My range is usually the same both before and after preconditioning. Surely it should be better after?