2015 BMW i3 0-60 MPH Review: A Day In The Life of an Electric Car II [Video] - TFLcar.com
Nathan and Emme spend the day with the 2015 BMW i3 – the first all-electric powered car from BMW’s eco-focused “i” sub-brand. Engineered with a 50:50 front to rear weight balance, firm suspension, and responsive steering from the engineers at BMW, driving the i3 is convincingly more enjoyable than driving a Nissan Leaf. Near instant torque response for the BMW i3 comes from a 125kW/170-horsepower electric motor and a single-speed transmission that drives the rear wheels. On a fully charged battery, BMW says the i3 has a range of 80 to 100 miles. Located underneath the i3’s carbon fiber, aluminum, and plastic skeleton is a rear-mounted 650cc, 34 horsepower, two-cylinder, gasoline-powered Range Extender generator option that roughly doubles the vehicle’s range. When the 22 kWh Lithium-Ion battery becomes close to being depleted, the 330-pound Range Extender generator kicks in with an uncharacteristic gruff drone and maintains the battery’s current state of charge. Even though the Range Extender never directly drives the vehicle’s wheels, it will keep the i3 going for another 50 – 60 miles. Source: www.tflcar.com
