Credit: Chris Neff/Inside EVs
i3 is BMW's electric vehicle (EV). Optionally, a range extender (generator powered by a two-cylinder, 647cc internal combustion engine (ICE)) extends its 160 km (100 mile) EV range by 128 km (80 miles).
With 125 kW (168bhp) of electric power on tap, straight line performance is good: 0-100 kph (62 mph) in 7.2 seconds for the battery only car. In the extended range version, the extra weight slows 0-100 kph time to 7.9 seconds. With this kind of performance, the two i3 models have the 2nd & 3rd best straight line performances of any commercially available EV, behind the Tesla Model S.
Once the battery is exhausted, though, the 25 kW (34 bhp) ICE powered generator can provide only much reduced performance. Apparently, the trick is to turn on the range extender while the battery still has substantial charge (BMW suggests 40%), so that the entire 125 kW of battery power remains available for acceleration & hill climbing, while the 25 kW ICE provides power for cruise.
And how does it stop & turn with that tall design & those narrow tyres? Apparently better than you might expect:
http://insideevs.com/review-from-the-track-bmw-i3-gets-driven-to-the-limit-by-pro-driver-i-ride-shotgun-wvideo/
Summary: good acceleration & general performance & handling but, while the range extender is a solution to range anxiety, it will make any journey of more than 160 km a series of ~120 km "hops".
If you forget to turn on the range extender early enough, the second & subsequent "hops" could be very slow./ drive driving EVs MiniE BMW ActiveE performance ecology eco was green exotic car meets parked next to a Ferrari Lamborghini Mclaren fun daily driver funky look skinny tires fun as my ActiveE styling drive tire tyre tires tyres drivers’ EV race track track day professional professional race car driver Erin CrockervNascar racer sprint car racer stunt car driver EV newbie loves automobiles decent speeds test handling what Monticello Raceway New York video shoot ActiveE handles curves frunk garage control controls track speed increasing hairpin regenerative braking regen braking accelerator impressive closed course lap laps pits fear excitement video shoot take full electric REx extended range on track on-track abuse going flat out handling nimble handle engineer low center of gravity low weight tall weight is down low chassis stiff i3 leans lean predictable front tires grab grabbing electronic stability control sliding slide computer cutting the power fully disable anti-skid hairpin hairpins long sweeping turns corner turn quick steering turning radius brake brakes braking ride quality /
