Back in January, we reported that BMW will offer an extended range package as an option to the standard i3 electric drivetrain. The two-cylinder engine engine will extend the driving range to 250 miles and will alleviate the concerns of those customers with driving range anxiety.
Fast forward two months later and BMW gives its future customers a new incentive to buy the upcoming i3 electric vehicle: a long-range BMW loaner car for longer trips. According to an MIT Technology Review report, BMW found in early EV testing that a limited electric range only hindered around 10 percent of EV drivers’ trips. The loaner program will be bundled into the cost of the car.
The i3 is built with a light CFRP body structure and rides on a predominantly aluminum chassis. The i3 produces 168 horsepower and 184lb ft of torque, and it has a top speed of 93 mph (150 km/h). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.9 s. BMW i3 measures 3845mm in length, 2011mm in width and 1537mm in height. The plug-in system is a compact electric motor mounted over the rear axle. It draws energy from the battery to provide drive to the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission.
Initially, BMW plans to produce 40,000 units per year and the rumored price is between 35,000 and 40,00 euros.
