[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Nice outlook on life. But doesn't match my experience. I live 23 miles from work. It's mostly highway, hilly route (I live in Switzerland), with stop-and-go at the end and then a few miles city traffic. I need the petrol engine for about 3-4 miles. I use sport mode and get a 2-3 mile recharge out of it. Rest is fully electric. I recharge at work and do the same thing on that way home. Using "Ecopro" instead of "Comfort" makes a big difference - typically 3 to 4 miles of extra range.

That sounds exactly like my experience. You're getting 15 miles range from the electric battery.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

That sounds exactly like my experience. You're getting 15 miles range from the electric battery.

In my math, that's more like 18. Doesn't sound like much, but it's 20% more.

[JasH]

Genuine question - why are some owners so bothered about running it all electric, and hyper efficiently? Isn't that what an i3 BEV is for?

I'm planning on mostly running mine in Sport mode when it arrives

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by JasH

Genuine question - why are some owners so bothered about running it all electric, and hyper efficiently? Isn't that what an i3 BEV is for?

I'm planning on mostly running mine in Sport mode when it arrives

To be honest: if you want sports all the time, get a Porsche. That's what I used to have. Can't beat the driving precision and the thrill.

The beauty of the i8 is, you still can if you want to. But you can also run it on next to no fuel in boring, stalling city traffic when all the sports modes in the world do you no good. Some of us actually commute in their cars. And going home practically for free (I can recharge at work) makes my day. But would I sit in an i3 or a Tesla for that? Hell no.

[JasH]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

To be honest: if you want sports all the time, get a Porsche. That's what I used to have. Can't beat the driving precision and the thrill.

No, not really. If I want very high performance I have other cars, and a 911 would not be my first choice.

What I mean is that the i8 is not a car to sit in trying to maximise mpg (other than as a test to see what can be done). Of course you will have boring/long journeys where you will be in Comfort, and some short trips in E drive. But it is a fast sports car that thrills to drive it quickly.

I completely agree with your commuting point, and E or Comfort makes sense if traffic is busy etc.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

In my math, that's more like 18. Doesn't sound like much, but it's 20% more.

Not with the on-the-go recharging. In an apples-to-apples comparison what is the mileage rnage for electric only?

[gadgetfreaky]

so bringing this back. when you plug in 110V overnight, does anyone ever see more than 15mi range on the dashboard? I'm not. Will it show 20mi if I plug it in with a 220?

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreaky

so bringing this back. when you plug in 110V overnight, does anyone ever see more than 15mi range on the dashboard? I'm not. Will it show 20mi if I plug it in with a 220?

I'll try the test first chance I get, I have L2 and plug in garage. But I'm curious if this is valid, anyone know whether the displayed range uses any history of previous driving style? If it does it will change at full charge based on last drive.

[JasH]

On the i3, it certainly changes based on driving style. My i3 is currently showing 64 miles on 100% battery. I've seen it show 79 miles often, after my wife has driven it. It will show much higher (in car) than 79 miles if she has driven it, and it is put into Eco Pro Plus.

My i8 is at the dealer, is only 93% charged, and is showing 20 miles electric range now. It was previously plugged into a BMW Wallbox 32A but is not currently plugged in.

[hytek]

Here's another write-up that explains why you get only 15 miles: http://blog.caranddriver.com/all-abo...ntire-design/:
"Even though the battery pack’s total energy capacity is 7.1 kWh, normal usage is limited to 5.2 kWh to ensure a satisfactory service life."
20*5.2/7.1 = 14.65
I have a level 2 charger, and it only charges up to 14-15 miles. The only time it had a 20mile range was when I first picked it up from the dealership. So, there must be a way to hack it, but you may be shortening the battery life if you do.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreaky

so bringing this back. when you plug in 110V overnight, does anyone ever see more than 15mi range on the dashboard? I'm not. Will it show 20mi if I plug it in with a 220?

.......
I use the 120VAC, supplied cord/charger. I've seen anywhere from 15 - 19 miles electric range at 100% charge. No rhyme or reason to why it varies, unless the car's system "remembers" how I last drove.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

Not with the on-the-go recharging. In an apples-to-apples comparison what is the mileage rnage for electric only?

Okay, step by step. 23 miles driven, minus 3 miles on gasoline, makes 20. Minus 2 for the recharge gained while being on gasoline, leaves 18.

Or, more to the point, recent read-out from a late night's drive home along the lakeshore - 20.5 miles all electric.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by StuM

.......
I use the 120VAC, supplied cord/charger. I've seen anywhere from 15 - 19 miles electric range at 100% charge. No rhyme or reason to why it varies, unless the car's system "remembers" how I last drove.

I'm pretty sure it does. The good old range indicator for fuel-driven cars works the same way, after all.

And I've noticed that temperature affects it as well. Mornig mileage after overnight charge seems to climb as winter passes and outside temps rise.

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreaky

so bringing this back. when you plug in 110V overnight, does anyone ever see more than 15mi range on the dashboard? I'm not. Will it show 20mi if I plug it in with a 220?

Not sure. I noticed that, when I recharge at work, where I have 220V 16A, it tends to show 3-4 miles more than in the morning at home, where I have 220V 8A. But this has been in the winter, and maybe the garage at work is just warmer and keeps the batteries happier.

Are there no electircal engineers on here who could explain if you can "cram" more charge into the same batteries by using higher volts or amps? Or is full simply full?

[JasH]

Just checked mine now, and it is plugged in at the dealer, 100% charged and showing 23 miles electric range. BMW wallbox 32A.

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Not sure. I noticed that, when I recharge at work, where I have 220V 16A, it tends to show 3-4 miles more than in the morning at home, where I have 220V 8A. But this has been in the winter, and maybe the garage at work is just warmer and keeps the batteries happier.

Are there no electircal engineers on here who could explain if you can "cram" more charge into the same batteries by using higher volts or amps? Or is full simply full?

I'll take that: the charging is HIGHLY regulated, the voltage only impacts rate and efficiency (how much is lost during charge).

[Aye-eight]

Originally Posted by Epirali

I'll take that: the charging is HIGHLY regulated, the voltage only impacts rate and efficiency (how much is lost during charge).

Well, this concludes the discussion, I guess. Thanks for the clarification.

I used to live in Maryland, BTW. Go Terps! ;-)

[Epirali]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

Well, this concludes the discussion, I guess. Thanks for the clarification.

I used to live in Maryland, BTW. Go Terps! ;-)

Hey I am just answering the question as an engineer! Sheesh!

[doitdb]

Originally Posted by Aye-eight

At home, I usually park the car overnight. The battery on the i8 is realtively small, imho no need for a high-speed charger at home.

However, what I did buy for about half the money of an installed wall charger, is a mobile charging unit that can take everything up to 400V and 32A, from all kinds of outlets. Granted, together with plug adapters, it takes up about half the trunk space. But it allows me to plug in literally anywhere and recharge fast. Go to a meeting, dinner, or shopping, come back - car charged & zip home electrically.

My fuel tank lasts me over 700 miles, or about a month.

Hey mate, could you clarify what mobile charging unit are you using? I might get it too. Sorry i know the previous posts are all old. Hopefully this will get a new discussion going. :-)

[tommyb13662]

I bought a wall adapter from amazon for 200$ a few years ago. J1772 plug Supports 110- 220v @ 50 amp max. Claims max 8.8Kwh charge speed. Charges the i8 in about hour 45min. Never yet from a fully dead battery though. Plugs into a dryer 220v socket. Says will work with a 110v adaper plugged into a 110v outlet. I see a few similar one on amazon for around 300$

Here is a similar one to mine https://a.co/d/bjDNrL5

[ChiTownM]

Originally Posted by tommyb13662

I bought a wall adapter from amazon for 200$ a few years ago. J1772 plug Supports 110- 220v @ 50 amp max. Claims max 8.8Kwh charge speed. Charges the i8 in about hour 45min. Never yet from a fully dead battery though. Plugs into a dryer 220v socket. Says will work with a 110v adaper plugged into a 110v outlet. I see a few similar one on amazon for around 300$

Here is a similar one to mine https://a.co/d/bjDNrL5

Thanks for sharing, this seems to be a very good alternative. What is the max the i8 will take for sharing in regards to the current. I am finally run 220V into my garage with this option.

[tommyb13662]

Not sure the max... but with either a 7.1kwh or 11.7 kwh and online says 2 hour charge time. Im guessing max is around 4-5kwh