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      08-24-2015, 01:04 AM   #1
Jason
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BMW i3 - driving without brakes challenge

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BMW i3 - driving without brakes in London challenge
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The BMW i3 electric car features a very aggressive regenerative braking system. The result is that you brake much less often than you would expect to. In fact, if you allow enough stopping distance, you can often come to a complete stop as needed simply by lifting off the throttle.

Auto Express decided to have a fun little challenge with this. A pair of editors drove the i3 around London to see how little they could use the brake pedal by simply relying on the i3's regenerative braking alone.




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      08-24-2015, 08:48 AM   #2
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Having driven an i3 for a weekend, this was probably the most enjoyable part of the experience. It certainly identifies how much energy we waste in the brakes and how much earlier you need to get on the regen to come to a complete stop.

Very intuitive after 5 minutes and quite enjoyable!
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      08-24-2015, 12:03 PM   #3
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      08-24-2015, 12:48 PM   #4
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      08-24-2015, 02:09 PM   #5
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Test-drove an i3 last year, and yes, it's very easy to get used to the regen feature.
Feels completely natural, like a manual transmission car with high-compression engine.
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      08-24-2015, 02:24 PM   #6
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It is a fun part of driving cars with aggressive regen. I can almost always avoid breaking unless someone cuts me off (which unfortunately is quite often, people in MD don't know how to drive and think if they can physically get in front of you and go 10 miles an hour on a 60 mph road then they have right of way).
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      08-24-2015, 07:23 PM   #7
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Had mine for just over 3 months, love it. When I drive our CRV now I find myself coasting a lot more than I used to. I can somehow get crazy MPG in the CRV when I drive it now. Interesting to say the least especially since I drive the i3 like its stolen and it's not slow.
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      08-25-2015, 01:06 AM   #8
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Had mine a day and love this feature. I had to move my other car tonight and already forgot I need to apply the brakes when not driving the i3.
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      08-25-2015, 01:24 PM   #9
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I would fit in. I am a self declared coasting champ and have north of 35 mpg on a x5 35d. If regen slows as described, my brakes would last a million miles (<- exaggerating).
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      08-25-2015, 02:55 PM   #10
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On the i3, you still want to use the brakes once in awhile to clean the rust off of them!
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      09-07-2015, 12:27 AM   #11
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Just out of curiosity, do the brake lights come on when you lift the gas pedal?
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      09-07-2015, 11:24 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by phantom701 View Post
Just out of curiosity, do the brake lights come on when you lift the gas pedal?
Yes, I was following my wife and they do (like Tesla). I believe there are two sets of lights, one set turns on when you life your foot off, both turn on in harder breaking (and I guess when you use the actual break pedal).
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