i Series

[johnfrederick]

So BMW launches their first totally electric car at the end of this month. Any initial opinions? Apparently up to 200 miles on a single charge. I get this feeling that we'll see owners of these in the hard shoulder with flat batteries. We all know what its like when we're surprised at how much we can travel on the red light but at least the AA can come with a small canister of petrol. What will they do for these haha?

 

[original guvnor]

I thought it had a small petrol engine in it too? The i8 definitely does, not sure about the i3 though.

 

[Maniac]

i3 is purely battery. TBH its intended for short range journeys, commuters or family runabouts around town/city.

 

[TitanTim]

Where do you charge it when you run out of electricity

Tim.

 

[Maniac]

Where do you charge it when you run out of electricity

Tim.

At home after its been towed...

 

[Anonymous]

Where do you charge it when you run out of electricity

Tim.

At home after its been towed...

:rofl:

 

[Bing]

Hmmm. Future market opportunity ? Just like those flash chargers for mobile phones, a portable capacitor with 20 miles of electricity in it to get you to a service station with a plug socket. Whatcha reckon ? There are electric car charging stations at South Mimms, not sure how widespread they are though.

 

[TitanTim]

They won't be much good in this country with us being on the verge of power cuts

Tim.

 

[johnfrederick]

Would be great in the winter. No seat warmers needed because there is a massive lithium ion battery under your arse haha.

 

[tomscott]

It is a city car 200 miles is more than enough.

 

[johnfrederick]

Actually gets 80-100 miles according to Top Gear. It also has a 2 cylinder as a back up if you run out of electricity with 9 litres of petrol for another 100 miles: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/BMW-i3-first-drive-2013-09-10.

 

[Breaker]

http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/07/30/comparison-bmw-i3-concept-vs-bmw-i3-production-car/

i3 concept v i3 production car

 

[Breaker]

This is interesting? Loan option of an X5 for longer trips to i3 owners?? :?

http://www.bmwblog.com/2013/07/31/bmw-i3-owners-will-get-to-use-bmw-x5-suvs-for-longer-trips/

 

[Maniac]

It certainly looks nice inside but not sure about the outside. There's a range extender option (small petrol generator) for £2k more some time after its launch (it should be available at launch IMHO unless it can be retrofitted).

 

[Maniac]

I still think the long term hasn't been discussed by BMW . Batteries fail over time. How long do these last and what's he cost to change them? Having said that if these are lease only then I guess it doesn't matter to us on the cost front. Be interesting to know what they do to the old batteries tho.. IF they're replaceable..

 

[Zeld4]

It's for rich people who own loads of cars and want to look "green" when driving round cities.
It's about as relevant for every day use for your average person who runs one car as a Bugatti Veyron.

 

[johnfrederick]

It's for rich people who own loads of cars and want to look "green" when driving round cities.
It's about as relevant for every day use for your average person who runs one car as a Bugatti Veyron.

In that case I'd love to see Rowan Atkinson bowling around town in one of these LOL!

 

[cj10jeeper]

I still think the long term hasn't been discussed by BMW . Batteries fail over time. How long do these last and what's he cost to change them? Having said that if these are lease only then I guess it doesn't matter to us on the cost front. Be interesting to know what they do to the old batteries tho.. IF they're replaceable..

We're entering a new era. Battery technology is coming on so fast that soon they will replace straight ic engines.

Think about phones. 10 years ago batteries used to fail after a couple of hundred cycles. Now they easily outlast the phone.
To start we'll have short ranges and replacement batteries every 2 years, but soon they'll last the life of the car or be drivein/out swaps to fresh ones.
Charging points will spring up, charge times decrease and tax swing further in favour.

 

[ksher]

You can now build your i8 on the website. I will have it in Sophisto Grey with Frozen Grey accent.

 

[Maniac]

I'll have some slightly funkier wheels, drop the 'futuristic' blue highlight, and have recession (not really in this context) white.