Driving Further … And Faster In The BMW I3s

New-generation battery brings increased range and power to this electric vehicle.

- Glenda Williams

at first glance, not much about the BMW i3 has changed. But the latest refreshed version of BMW’s pure electric car is more about the larger capacity battery that brings faster and further driving than any eye-popping exterior or interior changes.

Emissions-free mobility has historically come with short range capability and that’s been a deterrent for those considering an electric vehicle (EV).

But ongoing battery technology is changing that. Take the latest-generation BMW i3 models and, more particularly, the sportier i3s tested by finweek.

It’s all about the battery

When the BMW i3 launched here in 2015 with its first-generation battery, the EV had a range of between 130km and 160km. The second-generation battery brought an increase in everyday range to 200km.

Now, with the introduction of the new third-generation battery, the BMW i3s can cover 270km in everyday use in Comfort driving mode and – depending on road and weather conditions, driving style and tyre use – extend to 345km using the Eco Pro or Eco Pro+ mode.

While the size of the battery remains unchanged, this latest high-voltage battery has a capacity of 120Ah (ampere hour) against the first generation’s 60Ah and second generation’s 94Ah.