Official BMW i3 thread

[scottf200]

Haven't seen the videos yet

Well watch the videos then before the over the top bashing. Good thing it is software and can be tuned further. I would love ACC for long trips.

 

[TomT]

Why would anyone even attempt a long trip in an i3 with the short range and anemic Rex? Talk about the wrong vehicle for the task...

I would love ACC for long trips.

 

[evnow]

I would love ACC for long trips.

Isn't ACC more for highway commute in dense traffic rather than long trips with sparse traffic.

 

[mkjayakumar]

I miss ACC everyday on my office commute to and fro. Would be great to know that it will help slow down and even stop and react faster than what a human can do.

 

[scottf200]

Why would anyone even attempt a long trip in an i3 with the short range and anemic Rex? Talk about the wrong vehicle for the task...

I would love ACC for long trips.

I just meant I would love my current car and future car (SUV) to have ACC. I sure hope the Model X comes with it. They are so behind compared to other manufacturers in advanced safety and comfort features.

To answer you question see this goofy trip:
Title: 1,500-Mile Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Road Trip – We Made It From Canada To California!
http://insideevs.com/1500-mile-nissan-leaf-zero-emission-road-trip-progress-update-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would love ACC for long trips.

Isn't ACC more for highway commute in dense traffic rather than long trips with sparse traffic.

That makes no sense to me based on various road trips I've taken in the past couple years. "sparse traffic"? The speeds on the same road at varying locations along that road had traffic that varied all over the place. Especially people changing lanes or moving around you to get another 75' ahead then they were stuck behind the next car. I was in several states.

 

[Phatcat73]

I received an email from BMW to "borrow" an i3 for a few days. Email stated they're confident I'll want one after testing the experience.

 

[TomT]

I had one for a full day. I still didn't want one.

I received an email from BMW to "borrow" an i3 for a few days. Email stated they're confident I'll want one after testing the experience.

 

[cwerdna]

I received an email from BMW to "borrow" an i3 for a few days. Email stated they're confident I'll want one after testing the experience.

I heard about some folks on the BMW i3 Facebook group receiving an email about an extended test drive. The length was unspecified. (Have test driven the i3 3x, so far, all at driving events.)

There's also some chatter about it at http://slickdeals.net/f/210461-official-auto-car-ride-drive-events?v=1&p=70328288#post70328288" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Even though I have no interest in buying/leasing one, I might take them up on it... but it depends on how much I might get hassled/hounded afterward.

 

[DaveEV]

I heard about some folks on the BMW i3 Facebook group receiving an email about an extended test drive. The length was unspecified. (Have test driven the i3 3x, so far, all at driving events.)

There's also some chatter about it at http://slickdeals.net/f/210461-official-auto-car-ride-drive-events?v=1&p=70328288#post70328288" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Even though I have no interest in buying/leasing one, I might take them up on it... but it depends on how much I might get hassled/hounded afterward.

Here's the direct link to sign up: BMW i3 Extended Test Drive

Reading the slick deals thread above it seems that you are likely to get hassled/hounded with no guarantee that your local dealer will actually take part in the program.

 

[cwerdna]

I heard about some folks on the BMW i3 Facebook group receiving an email about an extended test drive. The length was unspecified. (Have test driven the i3 3x, so far, all at driving events.)

There's also some chatter about it at http://slickdeals.net/f/210461-official-auto-car-ride-drive-events?v=1&p=70328288#post70328288" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Even though I have no interest in buying/leasing one, I might take them up on it... but it depends on how much I might get hassled/hounded afterward.

Here's the direct link to sign up: BMW i3 Extended Test Drive

Reading the slick deals thread above it seems that you are likely to get hassled/hounded with no guarantee that your local dealer will actually take part in the program.

Yeah... I'd be curious to hear about Bay Area experiences in this program and how much hassling there is afterward. I guess I'll wait a bit.

 

[Bicster]

I filled out the extended test drive form. It asks if you prefer contact via email or phone; I selected email. About an hour later I got a phone call from an unenthusiastic car salesman. I didn't talk to him because his timing was bad, and I won't be calling back. I didn't get an email, but I strongly suspect I'll start getting spam from the dealership.

 

[TomT]

I filled out the extended test drive application too and got an email from a fellow at Center BMW. My exchange with him showed that there is no limit to stupidity among manufacturer's dealership representatives and that no one has a monopoly... Part of my exchange is below (read from the bottom up):

-------------------

Actually, your analogies are somewhat flawed…

All EVs suffer range loss with increased weight just as a conventional ICE does, it is simply the law of physics. Regeneration cannot recover all of that increased energy as it is nowhere near 100% efficient, plus the increased weight also increases parasitic losses at a constant speed due to tire and other systems increased friction. The Rex version is heavier than the no-Rex and this does show up as decreased range. The i3 forums are full of comparative numbers showing this to be true.
The EPA range numbers show this very conclusively with 81 for the non-Rex and 72 for the Rex…

As far as the Rex and battery discharge, the big problem is that the Rex has limited performance and without help from the battery, cannot produce sufficient energy to maintain high highway speeds or, more problematically, maintain speed up continued inclines. There is a plethora of stories out there about Rex owners having to creep up freeway inclines at 40 and much lower because of this… BMW exacerbated this problem by programming the U.S. version of the Rex not to start until the battery is nearly exhausted in order to meet BEVx requirements. In Europe, this is not the case and the Rex starts well before the battery is discharged and thus the problem is significantly reduced…

Tom

-----------------

From: centerbmw
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 3:03 PM
Subject: RE:RE: Extended test drive

Tom,

I can assure you that at (2,899) LBS, the i3 REX being lighter than the leaf ( 3,276), you will notice that the i3 is lighter than the Leaf, adding range without question.

With our Kinetic Energy Regeneration, even if the REX does have extra weight, you will not notice a decrease in range. As soon as your foot comes off the accelerator, as you may know, the energy transmitted from braking and cruising, is converted into usable power for the vehicle. There are limitless ways to recover and gain range with the i3.

Requiring the battery to be drained before an update does make sense. Think of it this way. Before replacing the oil on your vehicle, you have to ensure that all of the previous oil has drained. This will prevent old fluids from mixing with new fluids, which could damage the engine. In the same instance, the i3 batteries need to be drained so that a fresh new update could be uploaded, problem free.

-------------------------

Thanks for getting back to me.

I’ve had a Leaf for 3 ½ years and 55,000 miles and I am very well acquainted with EVs. I am looking to see what I will replace it with when my lease is up early next year… I would forgo the Rex were I to buy, by the way, as I feel that the U.S. software implementation that requires the battery to be nearly fully depleted before it can kick in, coupled with the anemic Rex performance, to be seriously flawed. And the added weight of the Rex degrades from the electric-only range.

Tom

 

[Berlino]

Think of it this way. Before replacing the oil on your vehicle, you have to ensure that all of the previous oil has drained. This will prevent old fluids from mixing with new fluids, which could damage the engine. In the same instance, the i3 batteries need to be drained so that a fresh new update could be uploaded, problem free.

wat

 

[mkjayakumar]

He doesn't want to mix new fresh clean electrons with dirty old electrons that has been sitting in the battery for who knows how many days. It sure leads to contamination. I see his logic.

He gives a simple analogy that he has learned over years of working with oil burners to make it easy for you guys to get it, but you guys still don't get it.

:lol:

 

[Bicster]

I'm sorry, but this is obligatory:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sELqobCIXU[/youtube]

 

[Valdemar]

Ran into an i3 fella tonight at an EVgo spot who was seriously going to charge his car using a Chademo plug. He parked his car across 3 parking spaces sideways (literally) blocking the charger. I asked him to move his car telling him he could not charge there anyways. He did not believe me at first and was arguing with me that his car has the quick charge thingy and he can charge. After a short verbal exchange he did moved the car after all and realized he is not getting a QC after seeing the plug (or pretended anyway). Apparently he had this car for 2 months now and this was his first QC excursion, as it turned out unsuccessful. All I thought to myself some people just don't deserve driving electric.

 

[LeftieBiker]

I guess that the downside to the I3 is all the BMW drivers it will attract...

"With our Kinetic Energy Regeneration, even if the REX does have extra weight, you will not notice a decrease in range. As soon as your foot comes off the accelerator, as you may know, the energy transmitted from braking and cruising, is converted into usable power for the vehicle. There are limitless ways to recover and gain range with the i3."

Gosh. Did your guys patent that regeneration thingie? It sure sounds neat! And limitless ways, too! Yay!

 

[LeftieBiker]

Oh, right. The reason I came to this topic: I think I might be able to drive an I3 this Sunday, at our EV event. I'm seriously thinking of driving the Smart ED instead, though, if I have to choose, as that is what I will actually be able to afford when I eventually have to turn in Ana, my Leaf...

I'll also be (hopefully) trying out a Zero DS. Now *that* excites me.

 

[surfingslovak]

I guess that the downside to the I3 is all the BMW drivers it will attract...

"With our Kinetic Energy Regeneration, even if the REX does have extra weight, you will not notice a decrease in range. As soon as your foot comes off the accelerator, as you may know, the energy transmitted from braking and cruising, is converted into usable power for the vehicle. There are limitless ways to recover and gain range with the i3."

Gosh. Did your guys patent that regeneration thingie? It sure sounds neat! And limitless ways, too! Yay!

I think dealers will always err on the wrong side of the hyperbole. The range loss is a function of:

- higher Cd due to air intake and exhaust manifold
- higher mass
- 6.5% less usable battery capacity than the BEV (~5.25 miles)

Although you get the extra miles once the gas tank has been depleted, this is not included in the EV range of the REx. It is, however, considered for the total range of the vehicle, which is about 150 miles. This means that the REx loses approximately 4.5% of the BEV range due to lower efficiency, and about 6.5% due to the battery not being completely deleted.

 

[Berlino]

The range loss is a function of:

- higher Cd due to air intake and exhaust manifold
- higher mass
- 6.5% less usable battery capacity than the BEV (~5.25 miles)

The wider back tires also cause more drag.