It’s time for the BMW i3 REx to be reviewed in the Fully Charged Show.
The all-electric BMW i3 achieves a range of 130 to 160 kilometers (80 to 100 miles) depending on how you drive.
The BMW i3 is also available with a range-extender, which maintains the charge of the lithium-ion battery at a constant level as soon as it falls below a specified value. This is performed by a two-cylinder petrol motorcycle engine with 34 hp (25 kW), mounted adjacent to the electric motor above the rear axle. The range extender increases the car’s maximum range in day-to-day driving to around 240 kilometers (150 miles).
The two-cylinder petrol engine adds 120 kg to the i3’s heft, and tacks 0.6 seconds onto the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time.
The electric i3 manages a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 7.2 seconds, while adding the extra weight of the range-extender generator brings the 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time down a shade to 7.9 seconds.
