The BMW i3 traveled 1213 km on a single charge.

The BMW i3 50L electric sedan, developed specifically for the Chinese market, covered 1,213 kilometers on a single battery charge. According to BMW, the energy remaining after the drive was only 1%.

The new BMW i3, the electric counterpart to the 3 Series, will launch in the U.S. and European markets in fall 2026. Built on the Neue Klasse architecture, it supports fast charging and can travel over 700 kilometers without recharging, depending on the version. However, a special variant is available in China—the i3 50L with an extended wheelbase and a battery with a capacity of 113.4 kWh.

According to Car News China, it was this version that recently covered 1,213 km during a range test. The battery level was at 1% upon completing the route. Since this is a test conducted by BMW, the result cannot yet be considered independent proof of actual range under normal driving conditions.

The reported figure is particularly interesting considering China’s CLTC cycle, which typically shows a higher range than America’s EPA and Europe’s WLTP cycles. When the i3 50L entered the Chinese market, BMW claimed a range of over 1,000 km for the rear-wheel-drive version. The company stated that the average energy consumption during testing was 8.8 kWh per 100 km. However, the final result depends on factors such as driving speed, temperature, road conditions, and other variables.

How does the Chinese BMW i3 differ from the European version?

The BMW i3 50L differs from versions for western markets primarily in its battery with a capacity of 113.4 kWh. Additionally, the Chinese version is equipped with a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive. Its door handles also differ from those in European and American models, as the design was adapted to meet new safety requirements in China.

In Europe, the base version will be the BMW i3 40 xDrive, featuring two electric motors with a combined power of 374 hp (274 kW) and a battery capacity of 82.8 kWh. The range under the WLTP cycle reaches 710 km, and the maximum charging speed is 300 kW.

The more powerful BMW i3 50 xDrive delivers 469 horsepower (345 kW) and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 4.7 seconds, compared to 5.4 seconds for the lower version. It features a battery with a capacity of 108.7 kWh, an WLTP range of up to 912 km, and supports charging at up to 400 kW.

The record-breaking performance of the Chinese BMW i3 50L showcases the potential of the Neue Klasse electric platform. However, this version is currently available only in China, and its battery as well as rear-wheel-drive configuration are not offered to buyers of the European and American versions.