From summer 2016, a new version of the BMW i3 will be offered with substantially increased battery capacity. Lithium-ion cells with a higher energy density give the high-voltage battery pack of the BMW i3 (94 Ah) a capacity of 33 kilowatt hours. Although the battery’s dimensions remain unchanged, the operating range measured under the official NEDC test cycle is up by more than 50 percent, from 190 kilometers (118 miles) to more than 300 kilometers (186 miles), while real-world driving range is increased to a maximum 200 kilometers (124 miles) on a single battery charge, even in adverse weather conditions with corresponding air conditioning or heating requirements.
The performance of the BMW i3 (94 Ah), with its 125 kW/170 hp hybrid synchronous electric motor, is largely unchanged. The new i3 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.3 seconds and is the sportiest electric vehicle in its segment. With electricity consumption of 12.6 kWh/100 km (NEDC), it is also the most efficient. The existing BMW i3 with 60 Ah battery will remain in the line-up. A version with range-extender engine will also be offered for both models. By maintaining the battery charge during a journey, the two-cylinder engine can increase the car’s range by 150 kilometers (93 miles).
To mark the launch of the BMW i3 (94 Ah), BMW i will also offer additional equipment options and new, more powerful charging stations for home garages. Under a retrofitting program it will also be possible, thanks to the flexible modular design of the high-voltage battery, for drivers of a BMW i3 equipped with the first-generation battery to have this exchanged for the latest battery version. The program is available on a market-by-market basis, and not offered in the United States.
