The BMW i3 can travel 1,213 km without stopping to recharge... and it still has battery left!

BMW has subjected the i3 50L, an extended version of the i3 designed specifically for China, to a range test that demonstrated the capabilities of this new electric sedan. This model features rear-wheel drive (currently, all i3s sold in Europe come with xDrive all-wheel drive) and is equipped with a substantial battery capacity of 113.4 kWh gross (108.7 kWh usable).

During the test, the i3 50L covered a distance of 1,213 km without stopping to recharge, still having 1% of battery energy left upon arrival. This represents a 118% increase over the vehicle’s official range rating. It achieved an extremely low energy consumption of 8.8 kWh/100 km during the test, which took place in urban areas, secondary roads, and highways.

The figures announced by BMW suggest the vehicle was driven at moderate speeds throughout; however, this information has not been made public yet. The European version of the i3 50 xDrive boasts a WLTP range of 912 km, making it one of the electric cars with the longest range available on the old continent.

BMW’s Neue Klasse models (i3 and iX3) feature an 800-volt architecture that allows them to charge from 10% to 80% in 21 minutes. For models equipped with a 108.7 kWh battery, the peak charging rate is 400 kW in direct current. Deliveries of the iX3 L will begin in China next November, while the i3 L will arrive a little later.

BMW has begun rolling out the Neue Klasse with the i3 and iX3

The results of the range test were announced during the battery production launch event in Shenyang, which becomes the third facility in the world to manufacture BMW’s sixth-generation cells, following those in Debrecen and Irlbach-Straßkirchen. These batteries will be used in future electric cars of the Neue Klasse.

"The high-voltage battery is a key component of our all-electric vehicles and one of BMW Group’s most important technologies for the future. The start of Gen6 battery production in China demonstrates the rapid and systematic way in which we are industrializing our most advanced technology across our global production network. This is a fundamental requirement for the successful global launch of the Neue Klasse," says Dr. Raymond Wittmann, member of BMW AG’s Board of Management responsible for Production.

"Production in Shenyang exemplifies our global approach: we manufacture locally, efficiently, and close to our markets, meeting uniform global standards while maintaining the highest quality." BMW’s sixth-generation cylindrical cells surpass previous versions in areas such as energy density (20% higher) and charging speed (30% faster).

Source | CarNewsChina