Earlier this month BMW announced that it will offer a new model range of its compact electric car, the BMW i3. Starting with the 2017 model year, BMW will be offering a new version of this electric car with more than 50 percent increased battery capacity. The new 2017 BMW i3 offers a capacity of 33-kilowatt hours (kWh) thanks to its higher energy density of lithium ion cells. Keep reading to learn more about the strides that BMW is taking!
The BMW i team has working to ensure that the battery dimensions have remain unchanged while still offering a significant increase in range. In testing by BMW, the new Battery Electric BMW i3 has shown that in everyday conditions, in varying weather conditions, and with the heating and A/C turned on, that it can reach a range of up to 114 miles combined (highway and city). The Range Extender BMW i3 features a 94 Ah battery as well as a 2-cylinder gasoline engine. When driving the Range Extender, if additional range is required, the 2-cylinder engine is switched on once the battery depletes to 6.5 percent state of charge and will keep the battery charged. It offers a 25 percent larger fuel tank than previous models.
The new BMW i3 sets a new benchmark in the electric vehicle segment with 94 Ah cell capacity, 33 kWh total battery energy, and an electric range of approximately 114 miles combined. It consumes 27 kWh/100 miles, making it the most efficient car in its segment. The high-voltage battery consists of eight modules with twelve storage cells. The designers have optimized the cell-internal packages with more electrolytes and adapting the active material to increase cell capacity and overall battery energy. To find out more about the 2017 BMW i3, head on down to your BMW dealers serving Chicago, Fields BMW Northfield, to speak to a member of our team today!