No matter what your thoughts on the subject, it's clear that several major cities around the globe have taken dead aim at internal combustion. The UK is not exempt: Oxford aims to be the world's first zero-emissions zone by 2020. So where does that leave us, with shops to get to and people to see? Public transport is one solution, but stopping for others and taken the most tortuous route ever gets a little tedious. You could buy a new EV. You will certainly be encouraged to in the next decade. But this will be expensive.
The third way is to invest a much smaller sum in a second-hand, first generation electric car and keep some thing fossil fuel-based for the weekends. The problem here is likability: Nissan, Toyota and Renault have done very well flooding the market with hybrid Priuses, electric Leafs and Zoes fulfilling people's green agendas but nothing which plucked at the heartstrings. Until BMW came along with its futuristic and loss-making i lineup, that is.
Leaving aside the pricier i8 and its issues, the i3 - as close to a global city car as BMW has ever built - is a different kettle of fish. Rear-drive, and in possession of a spacious and interesting interior, the model instigated a fundamental rethink on just how much fun could be delivered by an EV. Small enough to park easily, quick enough to shame most hot hatches off the lights, it also boasted carbon composite construction to keep the weight down. It is usefully different to BMW products, too - a light-toned design adding a definite cheeriness to the cabin, which uses multiple screens as displays.
Driving an i3 - like most EVs - takes a little getting used to especially with the aggressive regenerative brakes, but once you get the hang of it, driving with only one pedal will become the norm. Of course there's range anxiety to consider - but not if you go for one with the two-cylinder petrol generator that adds around 80 miles of extra distance to every charge. Later models like this one were fitted with 94Ah battery packs and improved charging systems that can be charged to 80 per cent in 40 minutes - great if you forgot to put the car on charge overnight.
If that still isn't enough, the driver has the option to force the i3 to hold its charge once it drops below 75 per cent meaning the car will run on electric power provided from the engine only. On the road, the i3 is quite firm and reports mention that it is quite twitchy on the motorway due to its quick steering but the pay-off is a real agility around town. There are cheaper EVs available, certainly - and plenty of different takes on what the revolution ought to look like - but the i3 was the first car to show that electricity and the premium market were going to mix seamlessly. Of course it only worked properly in a city - but that'll be the first place to see the legislators descend...
SPECIFICATION - BMW i3
Engine: 2-cylinder petrol range extender, 94kWh battery pack
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 184@4,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 184
MPG: 470.8
CO2: 13g/km
First registered: 2014
Recorded mileage: 32,000 miles
Price new: £36,975
Yours for: £20,950
1 / 2