New BMW i3 94kW
- Range increased by 70 miles to 195 miles in everyday driving
- Improved power consumption at 12.6kWh/100km and reduced CO2 emissions.
- Unchanged battery dimensions and no structural changes necessary.
- Batteries guaranteed 8 years/100,000 miles
- Generates 170hp for 0 to 62mph in just 7.3 secs.
- DC Rapid Charge now available as standard.
- Prices start at £27,830 after £4,500 government grant
- Available from July 2016.
A BATTERY boost pushes the new BMW i3’s range up to 195 miles – 70 miles further – and it’s on sale this summer, promising a big boost in business fleets as urban emissions curbs continue.
The 7% company car tax rating for the current year, costing just £433 for the current model i3, is another big attraction.
The news of the BMW i3’s range up to 195 miles comes just weeks after Tesla announced its BMW 3-Series sector-challenging Model 3 with 210 miles range for real world practicality – but a wait of nearly two years for first UK deliveries.
Since launch in November 2013 the plug-in charging BMW i3 has gone from strength to strength winning various accolades, including the SME Company Car of the Year Green Car Award two years running.
That was with a 60Ah battery system for 125 miles range, with a range extender version – using a small petrol engine to power a generator – increasing the capability to 205 miles.
Now that battery system is being replaced by the 94Ah battery on both the BMW i3 and the BMW i3 Range Extender models gives a pure electric range of 195 miles and extended range of 276 miles.
The BMW i3 94Ah replaces the current 60Ah model with a price increase of £1,350 for each model. It has a capacity of 33kWh thanks to the higher storage density of the lithium ion cells. The battery dimensions remain unchanged with more than a 50% range increase in the standard New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). This equals a range of 195 miles in everyday driving.
The motor propels the BMW i3 from zero to 62mph in just 7.3 seconds making the BMW i3 both the sportiest and most efficient electric vehicle in its segment
The high-voltage battery in the BMW i3 consists of eight modules (each with 12 individual cells), and its capacity has increased significantly without any changes in structure or exterior dimensions in its location in the cabin floor. By optimising the cell-internal packages with more electrolyte and adapting the active material, BMW has succeeded in increasing cell capacity to 94Ah and overall battery energy to 33kWh.
The resulting performance is said to be on par with sporty, conventional combustion engine powered cars.
The lithium-ion cells used in the battery are particularly notable for their high energy density and impressive cycle life. The battery has been designed to last for the car’s entire service life. Customers receive an 8-year or 100,000 mile warranty on the battery.
The hybrid synchronous electric motor, developed and produced specially for use in the BMW i3, generates an output of 170hp and provides maximum torque of 250Nm from the moment the car pulls away.
| Model | Price OTR | Power
Hp |
0-62 mph sec |
Top Speed Mph | Range (miles) | CO2 g/km |
| BMW i3 | £27,830** | 170 | 7.3 | 93 | 195 | 0 |
| BMW i3 Range Extender | £30,980** | 170 | 8.1 | 93 | 276 | 12 |
**With £4,500 Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Government grant.
The BMW i3 is the most economical electrically powered car of its size and output class. With significant benefits available from low charging tariffs, the low cost per mile would equate to running a diesel engine and achieving 470.8mpg.
The emissions of the BMW i3 94Ah with Range Extender amount to 12g/km, a 1g/km reduction in comparison to the previous model.
Distinguished by the i8’s Protonic Blue paintwork
- The BMW i3 94Ah will be instantly recognisable in the colour Protonic Blue with its Frozen Grey metallic highlight, which is available exclusively for this model. Previously, this was reserved for the BMW i8 hybrid sports car.
In addition, the new model also benefits from DC Rapid-charge as standard. AC charging is now multi-phase allowing charging of 3.7, 7.4 or 11 kW, this represents a 50% increase compared to the outgoing BMW i3 60Ah.
This means the charging time for the BMW i3 (94Ah) is less than three hours, in spite of the significantly larger battery capacity. The new BMW i3 94Ah can also be charged at home using a standard three-pin plug or by specifying a BMW i Wallbox.
The Range Extender delivers a maximum 38hp and powers a generator to produce electricity on a highly efficient needs-based principle. As soon as the lithium ion batteries’ charge drop to a certain level, the Range Extender kicks in to keep the charging level constant thus extending the range by 81 miles in everyday conditions.
Fitting the car with the Range Extender has no influence on the available luggage volume: the nine-litre fuel tank is installed in the front section. The luggage compartment volume remains unchanged at 260 litres and can be extended to 1,100 litres with the rear seats folded down.
Allowing for greater personalisation for owners, the Interior trims are now available as separate options and are available across all four Interior worlds, this includes Loft, Lodge, Suite and new Atelier interior world which comes as standard on the new BMW i3 94Ah model. The Atelier Interior world features Neutronic cloth in Aragats Grey with BMW i Blue highlights on the front seats and black leather steering wheel.
The new elegant dark oak trim is a standard equipment in the Suite interior design. In all other interior designs the Dark Oak wood trim and the eucalyptus wood trim are available as options. The materials used are a mix of naturally treated leather, wood and wool as well as other renewable raw materials. These make the sustainable premium character of the BMW i3 both visible and tangible.
