Pure-electric experience
We’re commuting like we’re in the future with the BMW i3s, writes
BMW. It’s not something we generally do for long-term test vehicles, but this one’s a bit different.
EV technology is so new, and the i3s is so hi-tech, I wondered how much information could realistically be imparted to a customer who was potentially trading in a 3-series and had very little knowledge of this brave new world.
It’s true I had a bit of a head start because I’m familiar with these kinds of vehicles already. But in the interests of research I put all that to one side and played dumb, which was quite easy because it was strangely similar to my usual modus operandi.
Anyway, this new i3s ‘‘buyer’’ got the works in an intensive 90-minute handover session.
The car was presented motor show-style under a cover in Auckland City BMW’s customer delivery room. $92,640).
BMW eDrive electric motor with eight Li-ion modules, 33kWh capacity, 135kW/270Nm, singlespeed automatic, RWD. Combined power consumption 14.3kWh/ 100km, range approximately 200km.
Had the full red-carpet (well, it’s a red car) treatment as an i-brand customer.
Nissan Leaf people clogging up the free fastcharging stations; how dare they.
Sales consultant Dylan Boddis talked me through all the usual stuff you’d do with any new car, like getting the driver’s seat set up, setting stations on the audio system and working out where the wiper controls are.
But there was also a lot of time devoted to i3s-specific stuff, including a thorough explanation of how charging works, what of type of connector to look for and where to find them.
Boddis got my mobile phone set up with a couple of apps: Plugshare, which hooks you up with the EV community and shows the nearest chargers – including those available at private homes, if you enjoy meeting new EV people.
The app can also be configured to show just the plug types suitable for your vehicle: Type 2 and CCS Combined (for DC fast-charging) in the case of our i3s.
Then more phone time as we set up the BMW Connected app. Like all new BMWs, our car is ‘‘live’’ because it has a SIM card embedded, which means you have remote access – anything from the current state of charge to whether it’s locked.
Or maybe you need to beep the horn or flash the lights if you’ve lost it in a car park.
Then yet more phone time as we set up a ChargeNet account. ChargeNet and BMW are in partnership with the ‘‘electric highway’’ of chargers being developed through New Zealand. Anybody can use them, but you need an account and swipe card.
Although you do get 10 per cent discount as a BMW owner and a special ChargeNow BMW-branded swipe card.
Hey, it’s the little things.
It’s early days and I’ve only had one weekend in the i3s, during which I explored some charging options.
Yet to plug in at home because a 200km range means you don’t have to do that every night, but I’ve had a look around the closest ChargeNet machines.
I’ve also been strangely drawn to sources of free electricity, despite my earlier claim of being all about the premium EV experience. Free is good no matter how posh you think you are.
There are a couple of Vectorfunded free fast-chargers close to me, although my first couple of tries were unsuccessful: first the machine was out of service, then the available spaces were full of Nissan Leaf owners standing around their Nissan Leafs, charging their Nissan Leafs or waiting to charge their Nissan Leafs and talking about their Nissan Leafs.
While I’m enthusiastic about EV driving, I’m not really ready to join that world. Or have I become a BMW snob already?
BMW i3s long-term test Base price: $85,900 (our car:
Mileage so far: 100km. Powertrain and performance:
What have we done lately?
Problems so far: