BMW i3 (used) from Germany, or my path to electromobility - part 2/2 [Czytelnik Tomek]

This is the second part of the story of our Reader who decided to buy a used BMW i3. Recall: while we are in Frankfurt am Main, and we need to return by car to Poland, in the vicinity of Warsaw. The BMW i3, meanwhile, is an electrician with an actual range of less than 200 kilometers...

Part one can be read here:

> Used BMW i3 from Germany, or my path to electromobility - part 1/2 [Czytelnik Tomek]

The following content is taken from our Reader, with only minor cuts and minor changes. For ease of reading, we do not use italics.

1 km by city car is a challenge!

I knew from the very beginning that it would take me 2 days to get home. I assumed that the purchase would take place at moderate temperatures, that is, during the warmer months. I figured that if I didn't find a suitable car in September, I would have to put off my plan until next spring—because if the mileage was too low, I might not get home.

The good news is that in 2019, faster chargers began to appear in Poland - I'm talking about GreenWay, but also Orlen, Lotos or PGE - thanks to which even a car with not too much range allows you to move around the country more and smarter .

I was also optimistic that the car showed a full 250 kilometers of maximum range after switching on and switching to Eco Pro + mode.

Jazda!

Before leaving, I used PlugShare to plan my trip. Why haven't I used A Better Router Planner? PlugShare made it easier for me to recognize free chargers, I also quickly found out if anyone was charging them, I had photos from the site and the ability to connect with previous users.

I received two RFID cards from German networks, but still expected problems at the charging stations. I was planning a trip with one paid charger and ... everything was perfect! I walked to the device in Kaufland with a soul on my shoulder because it had no PlugShare logins or photos and it turned out that the charger is there and works really well!

I recorded the first successful visit, added photos - you can see them HERE (an important argument why you should check in the application).

> Volvo XC40 Recharge / electric /: PRICE from 235 PLN 8 for P320 AWD, only “more than XNUMX km” of real flight range?

The funny thing was that The only toll station gave me a problem: Unable to launch via QR code, Unable to launch via Plugsurfing, succeeded only after talking to support (see HERE). It was not easy to reach an agreement, because I spoke English, the interlocutor spoke German, and on the phone it was difficult to see how I was waving my hands. But it worked: the device was launched remotely, I was recharged with energy and was able to continue my journey.

There was, of course, a back-up plan: spend the night at a Shell station nearby and beg the staff to let me connect. Fortunately, this was not necessary.

Poland, finally Poland

I finished the first day of driving at a hotel in Jelenia Gora.. I didn't have any insurance other than liability insurance, so I decided to use the secure car park. Unfortunately, in the morning it turned out that the only fast charging in the city (PGE) was broken - then I realized that always, You should ALWAYS plan your city trip with at least two fast chargers.... This is how a person feels too confident, because he is "at home" ...

I spent 2,5 hours in the parking lot of the mall with a regular 230 V socket to have at least enough power to get to the next charging station.

Everything went smoothly, in the evening I arrived in Warsaw. Active cruise control was great on the road, I drove 1 km with an average consumption of 232 kWh and an average speed of 13,3 km / h. I drove the entire route, spending 76 zlotys on electricity plus, of course, a hotel.

Charging the BMW i3 in Lodz, i.e. "I'm almost at home" (c) Reader Tomasz

How do I feel now? Was it a good choice?

The BMW i3 replaced the Toyota Auris Hybrid my wife drove. It is she who uses the car every day. Her opinion? Moves similarly to the previous one (apparently due to the lack of a manual transmission). But my wife immediately noticed that the BMW i3 can only be controlled by the gas pedal, because it allows you to accelerate and brake. Convenient, isn't it? 🙂

Anyway, I myself like to change from Outlander PHEV when I need to go out into the city in the evening.

Did buying in Germany make sense?

In my opinion, yes. When I look at offers in Poland for a year (2017) with a 94 Ah battery and similar equipment, I see prices around 120-30 PLN. So I saved less than PLN XNUMX XNUMX, of course, minus travel, hotel, document translation and registration costs in Poland. Anyway: I'm in big plus.

Wouldn't it be better to wait for additional payments? Opel Corsa-e?

The answer is yes and no. When I heard about the subsidies, I put my purchasing plans on hold. However, when it turned out that the restriction applies to new cars with a cost of no more than 125 PLN, I decided that I chose the aftermarket.

> Supplements for electric vehicles 2019: up to PLN 36 per car, up to PLN 000 per motorcycle / moped

Yes, I admit, I was a little tempted by the proposals of the Opel Corsa-e and Peugeot e-208 or the new Renault Zoe. However, it should be remembered that cars with basic equipment are included in the surcharge threshold. Their engines are weaker than those of the BMW i3. So they offer the worst dynamics. It seems that the inside is also somehow ... different and less space.

The only advantage of these models is a battery with a capacity of about 50 kWh - but then I decided that in city traffic this would not be so important. Moreover, the BMW i3 covered 700 kilometers in one day. I gave up.

Why not Tesla?

There was a time when I was considering buying a new Model 3. But I had very specific requirements because I needed more than just a charismatic CEO. I wanted:

1. the possibility of buying a car in Poland,
2. service in Warsaw,
3. surcharges for this model.

It was close, the first two assumptions came true. Unfortunately, the last option was not implemented, so I returned to the idea of ​​buying a BMW i3 on the secondary market. And, as you can see, I figured it out.

> The Tesla Model 3 has risen in price, the Performance variant only with gray 20-inch rims instead of silver ones.

Does an electric car make sense?

For me, yes.

I have driven petrol cars, diesel cars, hybrids (HEVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) for many years, and recently I hired an electrician (BEV). I believe I have a comparison and I can see that the latter is best to drive. Of course, the purchase price is a definite minus, because purely electric vehicles are more expensive. However, if we can accept a used car, a two- to three-year-old car in the secondary market will be half the price of a new one.

As seen in the attached picture. QED.

And if you are interested in my other adventures, visit Facebook - I'm HERE.

All photos in the article (c) Reader Tomek

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