BMW is now an established market leader in electric vehicles, recognised this year with the title Best SME Green Company Car for the BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender Auto.
BMW has been addressing fundamental issues of battery electric travel including weight, range, price, practicality, battery cost; and technology adoption.
So why after four years on sale has it taken until this time for us to recognise its talents by awarding it our ‘Best Green Company Car’ award?
Well, what BMW has done with this face-lifted version is to basically increase the already excellent range-extender model’s range to an impressive 231 miles.
Best SME Green Company Car: The Contenders:
- Renault Zoe Electric Car Dynamique Nav 65kW Auto
- Mercedes C-Class Saloon C 350e PHEV Sport Auto
- BMW i3 94Ah with Range Extender Auto
Last year’s winner was the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.
Once the lithium-ion cells from the battery are drained, the i3 moves on to a 650cc petrol engine giving an extra 31-mile range.
The result still offers sharp acceleration and performance without range-anxiety worries and still low costs including 9% BIK liability.
Despite the electric petrol drivetrain, it feels like a BMW to drive. This means sharp driving dynamics, state-of-the-art design and a high quality finish.
The BMW i3 is efficient, but acceleration to 62mpg takes just 8.1 seconds and the top speed is 93mph.
In addition, the BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender is available from just £239 per month with an initial deposit of £1,434.
What our judges thought:
BMW i3 94Ah Range Extender Auto
- CO2: 12g/km
- Fuel consumption: 53.4mph
- Acceleration: 8.1 seconds
- Maximum speed: 93mph
- Insurance group: 21
- P11D value: £35,635
- 2017/18 Company car tax band: 9%
- BIK: £3,207
- Tax at 20%: £641
- Tax at 40%: £1,283
“The latest BMW i3 is a great mix of reasonable whole life costs, performance, low tax and style.”
The key reasons why the i3 won
The BMW i3 is now an established market leader in electric vehicles. It is the first car constructed with the concept of sustainable, energy-efficient production, low emission running and support for customers so they can travel with less impact on the environment
The BMW i3 is available on the BMW Business Partnership Programme which is designed for fleets of 50 cars or fewer.
The BMW i3 with range extender is currently £239 per month with an initial deposit of £1,434.
- The Business Car Manager SME Company Car of the Year Awards 2017 are supported by Fleet Alliance.
