i3 (I01) [Official] The BMW i3 Official Thread

[SCOTT27]

The last words are the most poignant and accurate...

 

[Giannis]

The last words are the most poignant and accurate...

Look at those people living their lives while we are here, living in the future.

You know Scott, many times I see what the industry sees as "future" and wonder if we are going in the right direction. If this constant over-complification of things is necessary or are we loosing the point. If what we have in front of our eyes is truly innovative and possibly life changing, or just another trick of some industry that wants my hard-earned money. If an actually innovative product will help my life get better or worse.

 

[SCOTT27]

Look at those people living their lives while we are here, living in the future.

You know Scott, many times I see what the industry sees as "future" and wonder if we are going in the right direction. If this constant over-complification of things is necessary or are we loosing the point. If what we have in front of our eyes is truly innovative and possibly life changing, or just another trick of some industry that wants my hard-earned money. If an actually innovative product will help my life get better or worse.

Just go and drive the i3....You will see.

 

[Giannis]

Just go and drive the i3....You will see.

Truth to be told, I am very intrigued but it's not very convenient. There's only one, I believe, available for scheduled test drives, located in Athens, and I am sure I don't belong in their target group. I don't have the luxury of spending a whole day and tank of gas, just to take a trip to test-drive the future.

On the other hand, a few months ago I had a short go with a Renault Twizy. It was unbelievably different. Reminded me of a go-cart. It had me thinking for days after that short drive and I still haven't made up my mind. I do understand a huge potential, but I still haven't figured out if this (electric mobility) will end up being just an expensive toy, or will simply replace the ICE.

You'll be surprised by my lack of negativity about electric mobility. My negativity is focused on execution.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I live 2km from a huge BMW dealership that have a lot of i3s available. I'm very friendly with them having bought four BMWs from them over the years and in the process of buying another one. Yet I don't have the slightest urge to go and test one of these.

Maybe I will give it a chance.

 

[klier]

^ You should, it's amazing!

 

[Sunny]

If this constant over-complification of things is necessary or are we loosing the point..

To your specific point about complexity, one of the aspects of electric cars that appeal to me the most is their lack of complexity.

 

[Giannis]

To your specific point about complexity, one of the aspects of electric cars that appeal to me the most is their lack of complexity.

Yes, but then again, the range is so much more sensitive to a wider range of variables. And then there is the charging, normal and fast, up to 80%, up to 100%, battery life and highway charging stations, necessary for all this to be viable.

The electric engine is ingeniously simple, but the core of the electric car is the batteries. They are what makes the difference between models. Their capacity, position and lifetime.

Possibly, what I find as a complexity, is an electric car's integration in my daily routine. Adjusting myself to my car being an appliance, rather than a machine. A four-wheeled laptop, if I may, as opposed to one of the very few things in my life that don't need to be plugged in a socket in order to work.

It's late now, I'll give you a better explanation tomorrow morning

 

[klier]

Please, because you make little sense.

i3 is plug and play. Very easy.

 

[Sunny]

No, I think it makes perfect sense , electric cars are obviously not going to satisfy some/many lifestyle requirements, so yea it is going to complicate things for that group. Having to stop and find a charger especially where they are rare, in the middle of your commute or trip is definitely not going to make things simple.

While I am convinced electric cars are by themselves intrinsically simple/better mode of transportation. They are definitely going to go through a painful gestation period while the infrastructure, the car's capabilities and human behaviour sync up.

 

[jack]

in the bigger picture i feel with giannis. the more you think about the electric car, it rather feels like the invention of the electric typewriter - only to be surpassed by something even bigger.
but don't get me wrong, the i3 is an aweseome efford

 

[klier]

The same counts for pretty much every tech invention, imo

 

[jack]

not every, but everyonce in a while there is a major step
this major step in the automotive sector is probably not the electric car, but the autonomus car.

 

[Giannis]

Please, because you make little sense.

i3 is plug and play. Very easy.

No, I think it makes perfect sense , electric cars are obviously not going to satisfy some/many lifestyle requirements, so yea it is going to complicate things for that group. Having to stop and find a charger especially where they are rare, in the middle of your commute or trip is definitely not going to make things simple.

While I am convinced electric cars are by themselves intrinsically simple/better mode of transportation. They are definitely going to go through a painful gestation period while the infrastructure, the car's capabilities and human behaviour sync up.

Klier mate, I can put two tanks filled with gasoline in my trunk and drive to London without having to worry about finding a fuel station right now.

With an electric car, it's exactly the opposite. You need to plan how you'll use it, because charging needs a power socket and enough time. It's the same with your mobile phone. You need to plan how much internet browsing and games you'll play, as to not run out of battery before you return home. And when back, it will take some time for it to charge before you can go again.

How you use your car has great effect on fuel consumption. A lot of uphill roads? A/C on all the time? Or heating plus heated seats? Driving with another 4 full grown adults plus their wives' luggage? Even if this doubles your fuel consumption, it's just a 5 minutes task to up your range to 100% again. Electric cars, due to the nature of their recharging process require a lot more planning.

I don't want more things in my life that require planning. I have a phone, the battery of which lasts 4 days, during which I talk a lot. Having to reschedule my daily routine to adapt to my phone, would be an unnecessary and annoying thing. An ICE car makes life uncomplicated. Why complicate it with an electric one?

Then again, to someone with no automotive background, the maintenance of an electric car, as opposed to that of an ICE one could be seen as a revelation. Or, for someone who has a standard commute of 50-60km and a proper garage, an electric car could actually simplify his life. It depends.

 

[klier]

Most electric cars are hybrids with a combustion engine, this is what imo the future should be like. Plenty of range with those.

 

[EnI]

BMW i3 MPGe = 124! Officially The Most Efficient Car In The United States

The BMW i3 has just gotten its official United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ratings. According to the EPA, the BMW i3 fuel efficiency is 124 MPGe combined, which is the best in the US, 5 MPGe better than the Chevy Spark EV…. and 74 MPG/MPGe better than the Toyota Prius!

The city range is estimated to be 138 MPGe, while the highway range is estimated at 111 MPGe.

As far as range goes, the EPA says that the BMW i3 has 81 miles of range on a full charge. Not amazing, but not bad. The Nissan LEAF’s range is 84 miles, while the Tesla Model S is far above that at 208 miles.

With the EPA numbers in, the BMW i3 can now be sold on the US market. Initial deliveries, if they didn’t start today, will likely start tomorrow.

Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2014/05/01...icient-car-united-states/#K5fVU5zbjbVy3m0B.99

1. 2014 BMW i3 BEV 124 MPGe Combined
2. 2014 Chevy Spark EV - 119 MPGe Combined
3. 2014 Honda Fit EV - 118 MPGe Combined
4. 2014 Fiat 500e - 116 MPGe Combined
5. 2014 Nissan LEAF – 114 MPGe Combined
6. 2014 Smart Fortwo ED Cabriolet - 107 MPGe Combined
7. 2014 Smart Fortwo ED Coupe - 107 MPGe Combined
8. 2014 Ford Focus Electric – 104 MPGe Combined
9. 2014 Tesla Model S 60-kWh – 95 MPGe Combined
10. 2014 Tesla Model S 85-kWh – 89 MPGe Combined

BMW i3 REx Now Qualifies For $2,500 Rebate in California – Gets BEVx Designation

It’s now finally been made official.

Both the BMW i3 and BMW i3 REx qualify for the full $2,500 awarded under California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.

Read more at http://insideevs.com/bmw-i3-rex-now-qualifies-2500-rebate-california-gets-bevx-designation/

 

[SCOTT27]

Whilst in California this past week , I used both the i3 and i8 and the attention both were getting was astounding , maybe a Veyron is possibly too common over there , I saw six Aventador in one afternoon. But the public were all over both the i3 and i8. Of course we met some interesting VIPs at an exclusive preview Steven Spielberg likes the i3 so much that he put it in his new Sci-Fi TV show EXTANT starring Halle Berry.

 

[JusticeCar]

The i3 is literally the ugliest car that has ever been created. Simply disgusting to look at.

Now, the i8, on the other hand? Pure beauty and perfection.

 

[LaArtist]

sat in this thing today for the first time and viewed it upclose..

The interior looks like the inside of a funky sushi restaurant..

Car is cool..and i respect what it stands for but at nearly 50K euro ( the one in the showroom) its waaaaaay to expensive.

 

[klier]

^ yep it's expensive. Roughly 50k over here as well.

I love the car, and would buy one if I were rich just to have one and be cool.
But as it stands, this will never be my first car, as cool as it is. Rather have an 1er, 2er or 3er then.