As we reported a few months ago, the BMW i3 and i3s models will soon get a bump in range. An i3 120Ah model is launching late this year – early 2019 for some markets – bringing a bigger capacity battery pack and implicitly longer driving range. Intensive preparations are underway in the background for the debut of a BMW i3 120Ah , which promises a standard range, according to NEDC, of over 350 kilometers – around 217 miles – and therefore also appease the last driving range doubters – after all, the BMW i3 is primarily a city car, which is rarely used by most customers for more than 50 kilometers a day.
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Although the i3 has been available since the end of 2013, the new battery would make it one of the segment’s most advanced and long-range vehicles. In addition, a BMW i3 120Ah would underpin the BMW Group’s strategy of always offering its customers state-of-the-art technology and, after a relatively short period of time, implementing new technical advancements in the production series.
It is still unclear how the NEDC and WLTP figures translate into the real world. For example, the new WLTP cycle shows a range of 400 kilometers for the upcoming iX3 SUV, while the old NEDC standard would have indicated a 500 km range for the same vehicle. This makes the comparability of data difficult, because they are inevitably measured with two different units of measure.
The market launch of the new 120Ah battery could be similar to the case of the 94Ah battery: First, the 120Ah battery is optional and only offered at an additional cost, at a later date, it could be the standard for BMW i3 and i3s. Of course, each market has its own strategy so it’s possible that the 94Ah model will be completely phased out and immediately replaced by the new 120Ah model.
The increased range of the new i3 and i3s also brings foreward the conversation around the future of the range extender. The new driving range could spell the end of the i3 REx, which was always seen as an expensive backup for those with range anxiety.
[Source: Bimmertoday]
I imagine that there REx will remain at least an option to maintain bragging rights about range.
what would be even better is adding another gallon or two of fuel capacity in the tank. Not sure it is possible, but it would make the i3 more flexible like a Volt.
Bring it on! And don’t forget that we, loyal 60Ah owners would like to do a battery upgrade!
Yes agree would love an option to upgrade
European dealers have offered battery upgrade since 2016.
It’s supposed to be technically possible, but there dealers have to agree to support it.
This is good but not if it can still only charge at 50 Kw on DC !
Also BMW need to up the power and stay ahead of the game. 170-184 hp isn’t going to cut it if the leaf will be 204 HP.
This is great news, if it means that BMW will continue production of the i3. I owned a 2014 i3 REX for three years and I’m looking forward to purchasing a used 2017 in two years at a really good price. For a city car, it has all the range I need. From my experience, a range over 100 miles for a city car is only useful if one needs to use public charging stations and one doesn’t want to charge more than once a week. For a home charging person, 100 miles is plenty. Given the drop in battery costs, it might be that this new 120 Ah battery will be the same cost as the original 2014 battery. If so, BMW should not try to run the price of the car up. It’s already too high, relative to mid-$70K Jag i-Pace and Audi e-Tron vehicles. If one can contemplate an i3, it’s not too much of a stretch to one of these larger and more capable models. In 2014 BMW had a lock on a premium electric city car–no longer–and BMW can’t get a price premium any more.
Could’ve done this last summer… It’s great and all, but they’re dragging it out… The new i3 should at least get faster charging…
It needs more power too. It’s up against some competition. Doesn’t even begin to compare to the Model 3, it’s just a fact. Even though the i3 is such a brilliant car it has potential BMW simply hasn’t reached.
And those “rarely more than 50 kilometres” estimates are bullshit. You know it’s an average and doesn’t account for the times people are going long distance. It’s a lousy argument. Sure, I don’t drive more than that each day. But that doesn’t mean I would want the car to go further. Bigger battery also means less often charging, better flexibility and longer lifespan. I’ve cancelled or simply not even considered many long distance travels because of the low range and slow charging of the i3! Driving 17 hours in an i3 is not a fun experience no matter how good the car otherwise is.