Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

BMW i3 (2013-2022) range, battery & charging

A battery upgrade that arrived in 2019 gave the BMW i3 longer legs, with a real-world range of around 160 miles

Overall rating

3.0 out of 5

Range, battery & charging rating

3.0 out of 5

Fuel Types:
Electric, Petrol
ModelRangeWallbox charge time   Rapid charge time
i3189 miles6hrs 15mins (7.4kW, 0-100%)36mins (50kW, 10-80%)
i3s175 miles6hrs 15mins (7.4kW, 0-100%)36mins (50kW, 10-80%)

Thanks to improvements in battery technology, BMW was able to improve the i3's range without having to modify the body or reduce interior space when it upgraded the battery in 2019. Now, the car sits perfectly between the 159-mile range offered by the Volkswagen e-up! and the 220-odd miles of the Vauxhall Corsa-e. It offers far more miles between charges than the Mazda MX-30, Honda e and MINI Electric, which all top out at under 150 miles.

BMW i3 range

Now with a 42.2kWh lithium-ion battery stashed under the floor, the latest version of the standard 168bhp i3 can return up to 189 miles of range in official testing, while the corresponding figure for the 181bhp i3s is 175 miles. In the real world, you can expect to get around 160 miles in warmer temperatures, although that'll dip to some 140 miles or less in bad weather or with a lot of motorway miles.

Charge time

Using a standard three-pin plug and regular domestic wall socket, it’ll take up to 20 hours to fully charge the BMW i3. However, if you fit a domestic wallbox you can reduce that to six hours. Plug into a rapid charger of the kind found in many motorway service stations and you'll get an additional 100 miles of range in around half an hour.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide
Electric car repairs
Your questions answered

Electric car repairs, servicing and maintenance: a complete guide

How, where and when should you get your electric car serviced? And does the process differ in any way from combustion vehicles? Find out here…
14 Nov 2024
Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024
Best hybrid family cars
Best cars

Top 10 best hybrid family cars 2024

If you’re not ready to go fully electric yet, you should consider one of these: the best hybrid family cars to buy in the UK right now
22 Nov 2024
EV Deal of the Day: sharp-looking MG4 EV for £187 per month
MG4 EV - front tracking
News

EV Deal of the Day: sharp-looking MG4 EV for £187 per month

The MG4 EV is an impressive all-electric family hatchback, offering a decent range, plenty of tech and useful practicality
26 Nov 2024