Driving with the Range Extender engine running, we observed a fuel consumption average of about 7.0 L/100 km, or roughly the economy of a typical subcompact. However, the motorcycle engine also includes a tiny 7.3-litre fuel tank, and range is actually extended by only about 100 km (fun fact: the BMW C650GT scooter’s tank is twice as big). It basically provides additional range when the battery runs down and you haven’t yet reached your destination. When the battery pack is drained down to its minimum charge, the engine starts up, and you’ll definitely hear it revving up as it scrambles to generate energy. The generator in question is a 647-cc twin-cylinder engine – borrowed from the BMW Motorrad division – that develops 38 hp and is wedged onto the rear axle right beside the electric motor. The Range Extender is basically an on-board generator that produces energy, sent to the lithium-ion battery pack to keep on feeding the electric motor. The i3 requires up to six hours to be fully recharged with a 240V outlet. BMW estimates range at between 130 and 160 km, which can vary according to driving habits and the speed we’re travelling at. The car quickly bursts up to speed in city traffic, and can tackle a highway merge without breaking a sweat. The i3 is equipped with an electric engine that dishes out 125 kW, or 170 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, a rear-wheel drivetrain and a single-speed automatic transmission. Also: BMW i and iPerformance: Exhilaration for Electrification.And the i3 offers that, as long as you tick the Range Extender option box. Those needs include the feeling that we’re not limited to a certain driving range, and that a car should take us wherever we want to go. We’ll definitely get noticed in the 2015 BMW i3, a car that presents a glimpse of future urban motoring, but adapted to current needs. However, if we’re behind the wheel an EV today, we’re probably sticking out like a sore thumb. Someday, electric cars will be offered in all shapes and sizes, and people who drive them likely won’t be trying to make a statement.
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