The BMW i3 Electric (Hatchback): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The BMW i3 Electric Hatchback

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BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), is a leading global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Germany. BMW is well known for its portfolio of luxury vehicles, to include the famed Rolls-Royce luxury cars. The group manufacturers a number of cars under its BMW brand, to include battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The company currently has the following portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):

• All-electric BMW iX3 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX1 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX2 (BEV)
• All-Electric BMW i5 (BEV)
• All-Electric BMW i7 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX (BEV)
• All-electric BMW i4 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW i3 (BEV)

The BMW i3 electric hatchback is part of the BMW zero-emission sub brand ‘BMW i’. The plug-in pure electric i3 car is the first mass-market BEV manufactured by BMW. The BMW i3 made its debut at the International Motor Show in Germany 2011, with production commencing in 2013 in Leipzig, Germany.

The BMW i3 has won a number of awards, to include, the World Green Car of the Year, World Car Design of the Year, World Car of the Year and an iF Product Design Gold Award. The larger EV battery pack (42.2 kWh) was announced in 2018. In October 2017, the 100,000th BMW i3 rolled off the production line and the 200,000th BMW i3 rolled off the Leipzig production line in October 2020.   

The pure electric BMW i3 has a 42.2 kWh onboard EV battery. It is true, in that, the more recent introduction of electric cars have a larger EV battery, but given the positioning of the i3 electric car as a city car, the 42.2 kWh battery size is appropriate. The manufacturer claims a zero-emission electric range up to 308 km for the i3 and up to 280 km for the sportier i3s variant.

Though this pure electric range may not be as impressive as some recent alternatives, it is no doubt useful for most day-to-day needs and for shorter commutes on the motorway. The electric car also incorporates regenerative braking to increase efficiency and electric range.

Even accounting for the real-world range, the BMW i3 has a decent electric range. Depending on the driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, wheel size, onboard services used, expect a real-world electric range closer to 260 km for the BMW i3.

The EV offers DC charging up to 50 kW and can be charged from 0%-80% in 42 minutes. Though the electric car incorporates an 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, given that most homes in India are single-phase (7.4 kW), expected the EV battery to be fully charged in around 6 hours.

We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity tariff prices are cheaper and we also encourage the use of a dedicated home EV charging station like zappi, which is compatible with solar energy. We discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for charging an electric car.

In terms of performance, the rear-wheel drive BMW i3 can achieve 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, with a 150 km/h top speed (maximum power: 170 hp/ torque: 250 Nm). The higher performance BMW i3s variant can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds (maximum power: 184 hp/ torque: 250 Nm). The electric car also benefits from instant torque.

In terms of exterior stying, the BMW i3 has always made a bold statement, given it futuristic styling. The build and interior quality is what you would expect from a premium brand like BMW. Though the electric hatchback is compact, surprisingly the interior cabin does not feel as small, even for passengers seated on the rear seats. Moreover, access to the rear seats is easy, given the unique rear-door configuration offered on this model. The boot space is limited to 260 L.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! 

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PROS	CONS
11 kW on-board charger	DC charging limited to 50 kW
Good build and interior quality	Small boot and rear headroom limited
A good option as a used car	Cheaper alternatives available

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The All-Electric BMW i3 Hatchback (credit: BMW)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (1 Option)
BMW i3 (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 42.2 kWh
Charging:	50 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 42 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1590
Width (mm):	1791
Length (mm):	4006
Wheelbase (mm):	2570
Turning Circle (m):	9.9
Boot Space (L):	260

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BMW i3 120Ah
EV Battery Capacity:	42.2 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	308 km
Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh):	3.9 – 4.1
Charging:	50 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 42 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	150 km/h
0-100 km/h:	7.3 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	125
Max Power (hp):	170
Torque (Nm):	250
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	4
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,345
Colours:	7
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i3s 120Ah
EV Battery Capacity:	42.2 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	280 km
Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh):	3.8
Charging:	50 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 42 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC
Top Speed:	150 km/h
0-100 km/h:	6.9 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	135
Max Power (hp):	184
Torque (Nm):	250
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	4
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,365
Colours:	7
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Electric Driving: Top 5 EV Jargons For India

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Despite the increased visibility of EVs in India, the vocabulary (jargon) used in electric driving is still new to consumers. In fact, for many, it can seem daunting and confusing. We have therefore put below some of the more commonly used terms in the EV glossary, to give you an easier introduction to electric driving in India!

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EV Glossary: Top 5
Regenerative Braking:	Driving at all times requires braking. However, on more densely populated roads, the frequency and intensity of braking increases. Yes, it does result in longer journeys, but also reduces the efficiency of the vehicle. Regenerative braking is process of capturing energy otherwise wasted during braking. According to the rules of physics, energy cannot be destroyed, instead it simply transfers from one state to another. The same principle applies to braking. The kinetic energy that propels a car forward is usually displaced or wasted as heat. Regenerative braking captures this kinetic energy that in turns recharges an on board battery, increasing both efficiency and range. Cars like Toyota Prius, Jaguar I-PACE and Tesla Model 3 use regenerative braking.
What is Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging?	V2L charging is a bidirectional functionality allowing an electric vehicle (EV) to use its onboard high-voltage EV battery to charge or power devices/ appliances. It is also sometimes referred to as Vehicle-to-Device (V2D). Depending on the type of device/ appliance that needs to be charged or operated, V2L can be used while the EV is moving or parked. As an example, a laptop can be charged or used when an EV is parked or moving, while a lawn mower can only be charged or used when the EV is parked. V2L is a less complicated technology, compared to V2G, which requires interaction with the National Grid. V2L does not interact directly with the grid infrastructure. V2L cannot be used for powering your home or office.
What is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)?	V2G is an innovative bidirectional technology that allows the onboard EV battery to be charged and discharged i.e. electrical energy to be exported/ discharged from the onboard EV battery to the grid via a V2G compatible EV charger. It also allows for vital informational flow (data) to the grid. In effect, the V2G technology allows an EV battery to be used as a grid-connected energy storage unit.
One-Pedal Driving:	What is one-pedal driving? In one-pedal driving, the EV slows down or stops, when the pedal is released. One-pedal functionality reduce the need to use the brake pedal, for speed reduction or stopping. Of course, the brake pedal is still the best way to hold a vehicle in place at a complete stop.
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure):	In a bid to continue to improve the quality of realistic data released by automotive manufacturers, on economy, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has implemented its first phase for the WLTP program. The testing procedures under WLTP will result in reduced ranges for electric cars released under other previous testing regimes. The WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) designed in the 1980s and based on theoretical driving. The WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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