The new BMW i3 managed to travel 1,213 kilometers on a single charge in China

Range anxiety? With the new BMW i3, you hardly need to worry about it. A range of 1,213 kilometers per charge should reassure even skeptics. Another figure that stands out is the average fuel consumption of just 8.8 kWh/100 km.

These impressive figures were achieved by the new electric sedan during a range test in China. The results not only exceed the local CLTC certification values but also far surpass those based on the stricter WLTP cycle.

Image gallery: BMW i3 Sedan (2027) with long wheelbase for China

Significantly better than officially stated

The focus of the test was a BMW i3 50L, the longer version of this electric sedan based on the New Class platform and developed specifically for the Chinese market. The BMW i3 50L tested covered a route that included highway, country road, and urban sections. It started with a fully charged battery, leaving 1 percent of residual energy in the battery upon arrival.

The result is particularly noteworthy as the vehicle exceeded its official range by 18 percent: according to the Chinese CLTC cycle, its range is 1,028 kilometers. In contrast, the 50 xDrive version available in Europe is rated at 920 kilometers. However, despite having a shorter wheelbase, this model also features all-wheel drive.

A particularly efficient electric powertrain

The performance of the tested i3 50L was influenced by factors such as the sixth-generation eDrive system technology, the 113.4-kWh battery with newly developed cylindrical cells, and the 800-Volt architecture.

BMW i3 50 xDrive (2027)

Image by: BMW

Thanks to the 800-Volt architecture, the system developed by BMW also supports charging speeds of up to 400 kW. Under ideal conditions, it is possible to recharge enough energy for around 400 km in just 10 minutes. In other words, if the battery is empty, there’s no need to wait for hours at a high-power charging station before continuing the journey.

Image gallery: BMW i3 50 xDrive (2027)