Official BMW i3 thread

[mkjayakumar]

I have to agree everything Tom said in his last paragraph. I was cringing when I read that.

Apparently Musk made a similar comment on the Volt a few days ago (something like the worst of both worlds of ICE & EV). Bloomberg commentator was trying hard to bait a GM marketing spokesperson to react to Musk's comments, but that guy was level headed and simply focused on how great the Volt is.

 

[surfingslovak]

Here is Steve's interview in all its glory. Sometimes its helpful to hear what was said instead of reading a summary in the press.

Click to open

 

[Weatherman]

I saw that interview when it was broadcast. However, there's only so much Missy I can take at any one time. She is very biased against renewable energy and any kind of electric cars (which, I suppose, greatly appeals to her, typical, audience).

 

[surfingslovak]

I saw that interview when it was broadcast. However, there's only so much Missy I can take at any one time. She is very biased against renewable energy and any kind of electric cars (which, I suppose, greatly appeals to her, typical, audience).

Indeed, and it's a bit ironic that we are discussing a Fox News interview because of some statements Steve made there. Personally, I can see how large automakers look for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their cars because of current and anticipated regulation across the world. This does not mean that the i3 should be perceived as a compliance car, which the interview made it sound like. It's BMW's first foray into this segment, and you cannot blame them for not being bold. Although one can debate some of the decisions, such as the exterior design and lack of a BEV-only version with long range, I think the company will learn from the marketplace and from its customers, much like Tesla did with the Roadster.

 

[surfingslovak]

I wonder if that range gives them room to maintain it for several years without perceived capacity/driving_distance degradation as is becoming painfully a problem with the LEAF battery, DCFC, and their overall design.

I'm not sure if the will be possible, given the data shared with the public last month. The battery apparently has 21.6 kWh rated capacity and 18.8 kWh usable per the spec sheet. That said, the REx version could require a longer and more stringent battery warranty, much like what we have seen with the Volt. This is just my personal opinion, but I would think that aside from the need to ramp up production in Leipzig, there might some regulatory and legislative aspects of the launch to take care of in the US. This likely contributed to the 2014 Q2 release date.

 

[scottf200]

I wonder if that range gives them room to maintain it for several years without perceived capacity/driving_distance degradation as is becoming painfully a problem with the LEAF battery, DCFC, and their overall design.

I'm not sure if the will be possible, given the data shared with the public last month. The battery apparently has 21.6 kWh rated capacity and 18.8 kWh usable per the spec sheet. That said, the REx version could require a longer and more stringent battery warranty, much like what we have seen with the Volt. This is just my personal opinion, but I would think that aside from the need to ramp up production in Leipzig, there might some regulatory and legislative aspects of the launch to take care of in the US. This likely contributed to the 2014 Q2 release date.

Good point. Volt has 5.7 kWh to use for TMS and high/low watermarks ('11/'12: 16kWh-10.3 or '13: 16.5kWh-10.8). i3 has 2.8 kWh (21.6-18.8). Still the i3 may have a few hundred W to play with so the first few years are consistent. I was thinking about all this based on Frank Weber coming from the Volt development/planning and going to BMW. Thought he may have instilled some of that user-expectation philosophy. ( youtube at 38 seconds in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=S6SARzQPcRA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ). As well I thought I saw BMW-i3 videos on their battery safety and longevity. They were really pushing that up to the EOL experience would be pretty consistent.

Nissan's *general* philosophy appears to be let the user experience see a degradation like a cellphone or laptop battery.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Nissan's *general* philosophy appears to be let the user experience see a degradation like a cellphone or laptop battery.

Absolutely, except the cell phone companies won't warranty for degradation, as Nissan now officially does.

 

[blackmamba]

Nissan's *general* philosophy appears to be let the user experience see a degradation like a cellphone or laptop battery.

Absolutely, except the cell phone companies won't warranty for degradation, as Nissan now officially does.

Before we all break out the champagne to toast Nissan for their largesse, let's get some perspective here - people don't spend $30,000 on cell phones. :roll:

 

[Bicster]

Before we all break out the champagne to toast Nissan for their largesse, let's get some perspective here - people don't spend $30,000 on cell phones. :roll:

Meet the $30,000 cell phones: http://www.pcworld.com/article/156062/luxury_cell_phones.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; :lol:

 

[GRA]

Before we all break out the champagne to toast Nissan for their largesse, let's get some perspective here - people don't spend $30,000 on cell phones. :roll:

Meet the $30,000 cell phones: http://www.pcworld.com/article/156062/luxury_cell_phones.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; :lol:

I guess some people really are that insecure/desperate for attention. :roll:

 

[TomMoloughney]

A new i3 video was posted on YouTube today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQVO0Vaigb0

 

[sparky]

Not a great article from R&T.
I have been looking forward to an i3 test drive and figured BMW would have the handling well tuned on this creature. But then I read this:

...the Tesla is gorgeous, priced rationally, and drives like an absolute dream.
Unfortunately, the drive is where the i3 falls apart. Our time at the wheel consisted of 15 minutes on a cone course. The first thing I scribbled into my notebook: "This ain't no Tesla. It's not a BMW, either."

...In the European NEDC driving cycle, the i3 is rated at 118 miles of range, which isn't that impressive. (The much-heavier Leaf is rated at 124 miles, and its battery is barely larger than the BMW's.)

It's not all bad. It sounds like the acceleration is good and BMW enabled one-pedal accel-regen driving like Mini-E and Tesla.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-rev...ests-road-tests-bmw-i3-65-3-roa1013#viewSpecs

 

[Boomer23]

Not a great article from R&T.
I have been looking forward to an i3 test drive and figured BMW would have the handling well tuned on this creature. But then I read this:

...the Tesla is gorgeous, priced rationally, and drives like an absolute dream.
Unfortunately, the drive is where the i3 falls apart. Our time at the wheel consisted of 15 minutes on a cone course. The first thing I scribbled into my notebook: "This ain't no Tesla. It's not a BMW, either."

...In the European NEDC driving cycle, the i3 is rated at 118 miles of range, which isn't that impressive. (The much-heavier Leaf is rated at 124 miles, and its battery is barely larger than the BMW's.)

It's not all bad. It sounds like the acceleration is good and BMW enabled one-pedal accel-regen driving like Mini-E and Tesla.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-rev...ests-road-tests-bmw-i3-65-3-roa1013#viewSpecs

Doesn't sound great, Sparky, but I'm hoping that the brief, parking lot course venue of this test drive isn't representative of the car's performance on public roads. At least I've set myself up with a lease on my current 2013 LEAF so that I'll have a year and a half from the European release of the i3 before I need to make a decision on a new car. There should be ample real world commentary available to read by then. I'm thoroughly impressed with the Model S, but I don't want a car that large, nor one as expensive and comparatively inefficient. There's lots of time ahead of us before the Tesla Gen III car, and a few interesting choices, to be sure.

 

[TomMoloughney]

No doesn't sound good at all. I can't recall a car that has such a wide range of reviews. There are few where they praise the handling and some that pan it, very strange. I'm certainly going to drive one myself and form my own opinion. Here's one where the guy say's it handles better than a Model S. http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=163" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[edatoakrun]

No doesn't sound good at all. I can't recall a car that has such a wide range of reviews. There are few where they praise the handling and some that pan it, very strange. I'm certainly going to drive one myself and form my own opinion. Here's one where the guy say's it handles better than a Model S. http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=163" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone heard when the public will be able to test drive the i3?

Anyone know if it will be at the San Francisco Auto show ~11/28 to 12/2/13?

 

[TomMoloughney]

No doesn't sound good at all. I can't recall a car that has such a wide range of reviews. There are few where they praise the handling and some that pan it, very strange. I'm certainly going to drive one myself and form my own opinion. Here's one where the guy say's it handles better than a Model S. http://evworld.com/focus.cfm?cid=163" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyone heard when the public will be able to test drive the i3?

Anyone know if it will be at the San Francisco Auto show ~11/28 to 12/2/13?

You can sign up for a test drive http://bmwi3.blogspot.com/2013/08/register-to-test-drive-i3.html.

Not sure about San Francisco, but for sure it will be at the LA Auto Show.

 

[surfingslovak]

Anyone heard when the public will be able to test drive the i3?

No word on any dates yet, but I would hope that it will be soon. There was some indication that an i3 would be at the EV Summit at Google last weekend, but that obviously has not worked out. I would recommend signing up via the website, which Tom mentioned above. The i3 will be available for test drives at the Frankfurt Motor Show, which might be of interest for those who will be in Europe in mid September.

 

[surfingslovak]

Interesting tie-in with public transportation. The range estimator apparently considers topography and elevation differences as well (via Joachim).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLxuQMfuV-w[/youtube]


Pardon the Czech, but autorevue.cz published a longish video recording from their i3 test drive at the IAA in Frankfurt (via Parker).

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

 

[cwerdna]

Lots of i3 pics at http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/09/12/bmw-i3-photos-2013-frankfurt-auto-show/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

 

[surfingslovak]

Production of BMW i3 Now Officially Underway

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uz-Lv2qUA8[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgT9wmZWo_8[/youtube]