When the BMW i3 arrived in 2014 it was a ground breaking new entry in the EV segment, but since then BMW has only given it small updates to keep it fresh, with the last big update being the introduction of the i3s. With only a 114 mile driving range, the i3 has been overshadowed by newer models, like the Chevy Bolt and Tesla Model 3, but a fix might be coming in soon.
According to BimmerToday, BMW is working on a new battery pack with 120 Ah cells, which will give the i3 a driving range up to 350 kilometers (217 miles) on the NEDC cycle. If the report is accurate the new battery upgrade will arrive by the end of 2018 or early 2019.
While the report claims that the i3 will have a driving range just over 200 miles on the NEDC cycle, that doesn’t really translate into how well it will do in the real world. The NEDC cycle is being phased out for the more accurate WLTP cycle, since it’s more representative of real world driving. Either way, the new battery pack with its 120 Ah cells will give the i3 a range that’s much better than the current model, if the report is true.
Stay tuned.
Source: BimmerToday
