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      11-16-2013, 08:45 PM   #13
jadnashuanh
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Drives: 535iGT x-drive; i3 BEV
Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA

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A level 3 charger uses 50Kw/hr or so, it's an energy hog, which is why the average home won't likely have one, nor would they want to spend the money for that high power DC power supply! The power grid may have issues with it as well.

Everyone wants longer range, and that requires the ability to dump lots of energy into the batteries in a reasonable time. BMW is upping the ante by making the car both safe and light(er) that what was available before. Higher density batteries will come around, but they'll still need some way to fill them back up.

Technology is in the labs to up the energy density of the batteries by maybe an order of magnitude, and make recharging more efficient, and the same charger may get the faster recharge when the batteries catch up, so that 3-hour home charger may then become more efficient.

But, you have to start somewhere, and technology needs some money and impetus to develop...the I-series is a good start...have to start somewhere.
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