BMW i3 REx – long distance test BMW i3 with internal combustion energy generator [Auto Świat]

The German Auto Bild carried out and the Polish Auto wiat described the test of the BMW i3 REx over a distance of 100 kilometers. Although this variant is no longer available in Europe, it could be an interesting option in the secondary market - so it's worth looking into.

Before we get to the report, a quick reminder: The BMW i3 REx is a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in which the internal combustion engine acts solely as a power generator. For this reason, the i3 REx is sometimes referred to as EREV, an extended range electric vehicle. Such a car does not have any benefits under the Electric Mobility Law, but when imported from abroad, it will be cheaper by the amount of excise tax.

BMW i3 (in the background) and BMW i3 REx (in the foreground). The main difference is the additional fuel cap on the front fender (c) of the BMW.

Auto Bild conducted long-distance test of the BMW i3 REx 60 Ah, that is, a vehicle with a 21,6 kWh battery and a 25 kW (34 hp) two-cylinder combustion engine. Purely electric the range of this model is about 116 kilometers, general in mixed mode - about 270 kilometers (in the US version: ~ 240 km).

The first thing the testers noticed was the sound of a combustion energy generator. Kymco makes the engine from a motorcycle and is unlikely to sound clean with two cylinders and 650cc. It has been compared to a lawnmower, and in fact, its growl is very similar, which is easy to see when watching YouTube:

What about the range? Off the highway, Eco Pro + mode was driven 133 kilometers in cold weather in pure electric mode. In the summer it was already 167 kilometers. Now, with a run of 100 thousand kilometers, the battery is discharged after 107 km.

Degradation of the BMW i3 REx 60 Ah battery

Auto Bilda journalists estimate that the battery capacity has dropped to 82 percent. primary capacity. This is a valuable measurement as there are very few data on the consumption of BMW i3 / i3 REx elements on the market.

Comparison with competitors is intriguing. The 24 kWh Nissan Leaf used in hot climates is much worse, but the 40 kWh Nissan Leaf used in Europe looks better. According to preliminary calculations, the new Leaf (2018) should drop to 95 percent for the same mileage, that is, lose only 5 percent of the original power:

Decrease in Nissan Leaf battery capacity by 40 kWh / capacity loss (blue line and percentage scale on the left) versus mileage (mileage scale on the right) (c) Lemon-Tea / YouTube

BMW i3 REx failures? Mainly in the exhaust section

In the described BMW i3 REx, the ignition coils of the internal combustion engine were damaged, and at 55 km, the supercharger fan. He also hit the fuel tank hatch. On the electrical side of the drive system, the biggest problem was... the cables used to connect to the charger. In the Auto Bilda test, they had to be changed twice.

BMW charging cables for electric vehicles and hybrids. Single-phase (left) cables can be easily distinguished from three-phase (right) cables by wire thickness.

Reporters were surprised by the high maintenance costs (every 30 kilometers), which were mandatory, probably due to the presence of an internal combustion engine. The eco leather on the steering wheel and seats is slightly worn, and the rubber shock absorbers are also cracked. Brake discs are rusted because they were rarely used. Both front and rear, after 100 thousand kilometers, the original set of discs and pads remained.

Worth Reading: 100 3 km behind the wheel of a BMW iXNUMX…

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