When we [Ars Technica] reviewed the BMW i3 back in 2014, the little rear-wheel drive city car left us quite impressed. However, the i3 has always had a couple of flaws in comparison with other electric vehicles out there; it costs too much and the range isn't very good, even if you go for the optional two-cylinder range-extending engine. It appears BMW has decided to address the latter issue, because from this summer the i3 will now come with a 33kWh battery in place of the current 22kWh unit.
[...] The new battery is 50 percent bigger, so more than 100 miles (160km) should be possible on a full charge. The gas tank for the range extender engine will also grow by 25 percent; expect to stop for gas every 75 miles if you try road-tripping. These range tweaks should help boost the i3's appeal, but before long the Bolt and Model 3 are going to make people expect 200+ miles from their EV as a bare minimum.
Happily for existing (and even potential) i3 owners, BMW says that current i3s can have the new battery retrofitted as part of a special program, although no one is saying anything about how much that might cost yet. Again, this kind of thinking is a promising sign for an industry that's never really considered upgrades as important. Tesla has excelled at pushing out new functionality to owners across the world on a regular basis, with both software upgrades and hardware retrofits, offering a better battery pack for Roadster owners in the past and underbody "armor" for the Model S fleet.
Tesla has shaken up the car industry with its award-winning electric vehicles (EVs) and supercharger network. Nearly every major brand now offers EVs or is seriously planning to offer them. A couple like Nissan and BMW have begun to build out their own charging networks. But this article highlights another way in which Tesla has re-invented the car: it gets better after you've bought it, through over-the-air software updates and battery retrofits that dramatically improve your EV's range. Will this upgradeability prove to be the "killer app" of the EV?
Related Stories
A rally in Tesla shares [...] briefly vaulted the company's market capitalization past the German luxury carmaker in early Friday trading. The amount of ground Tesla covered was vast: BMW was valued at a $30 billion premium as of early December.
[...] Short interest represented about one fourth of the shares as of the latest quarterly filing.
According to The Drive the three most valuable auto makers are "Toyota, Daimler, and Volkswagen."
Tesla stock sat at $357.32 after market close after trading as high as $376.87 on Friday.
—Silicon Valley Business Journal
related stories:
Tear-Down/Reviews on new BMW i3 Electric Car
BMW X3 May be Emitting a Greater Amount of Poisonous Gases than VW
Electric, Autonomous Cars Will Drive BMW's Continued Growth
BMW Boosts i3 Battery Capacity by 50 Percent—and it's Retrofitable
VW Responds to Diesel Scandal, Says "the Future is Electric"
Bob Lutz Thinks Tesla is Doomed
One in Seven New BMWs Sold in the US is an Electric Vehicle
Elon Musk's "Top Secret Tesla Masterplan, Part 2"
Elon Musk's Tesla Offers to Buy Elon Musk's SolarCity, Shares Tumble
Wall Street Values Tesla Motors at $620,000 for Every Car Delivered Last Year
Tesla Soars on Financials and Ratings
Tesla Stock Price Falls as Sales Target Cut to as Few as 50,000 Vehicles
Tesla Reaches 325,000 Preorders for Model 3, But Can It Deliver?
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday May 03 2016, @10:51AM
Of course it will. The moment I can download a new battery pack over-the-air, I promise never to look to own ICE-powered cars.
(grin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 3, Informative) by jlv on Tuesday May 03 2016, @03:00PM
On the contrary, *not* providing the ability to upgrade is a disincentive. The 2016 Nissan LEAF SV/SL have a 30 kWh battery capacity -- but Nissan isn't selling that as a replacement for older models, who still can only get the 24 kWh pack (which is still used in the 2016 LEAF S). Quite a few 2011/2012 LEAFs have gotten new batteries under warranty (the batteries those years had significant capacity declines in hot climates, partially because of the passive thermal management). By not making the larger pack available, Nissan is losing out on customer loyalty. Both packs are physically the same size, so they are only doing this to "sell new cars". That's ok; after all, they are a car company and they exist to build and sell new cars. But my loyalty goes to the manufacturer who not only sells me the new car, but keeps me using it.
Background: I have a 2013 LEAF SL for 2 years and 20000 miles so far. At this point the battery capacity in my car has declined about 6% (which is the expected amount for my climate).
Nissan should be ahead given their early commitment to EVs, but instead they are falling behind and losing the support of early adopters. In fact, their initial push into the market has turned into a complete lack of commitment. They are not upfront about where they are going. They've not talked about the mythical "LEAF II" with an extended range. Existing owners are frustrated about future prospects. The Tesla Model S is already outselling them by 3-to-1 (April 2016) [insideevs.com]. Frankly, the Chevy Bolt is going take over all of the LEAF market share when it comes out. It doesn't help that the LEAF is fugly.
A couple like Nissan and BMW have begun to build out their own charging networks
I'm not sure about what BMW is doing, but Nissan's deployment of level 3 CHAdeMO stations is a disaster!
(Score: 2, Informative) by jlv on Tuesday May 03 2016, @04:37PM
Nissan's deployment of level 3 CHAdeMO stations is a disaster. They gave these stations out to dealers, but the dealers have no incentive to either keep them running or even keep them free. Here in Massachusetts, *most* are still free. Many even work most of the time. The physical units have a filter that needs to be cleaned once every few months, but the dealers aren't doing so. The filter gets clogged up and in the summer heat, the units overheat and shut off. Last summer 3 of the 6 CHAdeMOs near me were out of commission; some for as long as 4 months.
Then there are the dealers who now charge to use their CHAdeMO: $10 for a level 3 charge works out to the equivalent of $5/gal of gasoline for a car that gets 30MPG (or $3.33/gal for a car that does 20MPG). Only 1 dealer around here charges, but I don't know how long that will last.
Really, the killer app for EVs is the SuperCharger network. Have a Tesla? You can go anyway because you can quickly get a charge if you need... and you can depend upon the charging station actually working. Need a charge? They've built out a huge infrastructure of stations -- something that dwarfs the meager network Nissan has built out.
Compare this: http://a6b6a4d850da023e34c0-ffd458871468d7801be60d93d5d79b26.r30.cf2.rackcdn.com/40344.jpg [rackcdn.com] (the white LEAF is a dealer car parked in the CHAdeMO spot, blocking access to it; the blue LEAF has to park in the access road in order to stretch the cord to the car; and this particular CHAdeMO is broken as of 3/2016)
To this: http://a6b6a4d850da023e34c0-ffd458871468d7801be60d93d5d79b26.r30.cf2.rackcdn.com/82343.jpg [rackcdn.com] (where there is 1 supercharger, you are sure to find 5 more)
I'm not sure what BMW is doing, but I doubt it's much better than Nissan (given that at best i3 sales are 1/6 LEAF sales).
I bet the Bolt will capture some initial market share, since it will be a 200+ mile range and people will get the $7500 federal tax credit for buying it. But the Model 3 will be a truly ubiquitous EV car able to go anywhere an ICE car can go today.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Tuesday May 03 2016, @05:19PM
Getting malware/hacked over the air... truly the killer app!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Rich on Tuesday May 03 2016, @11:26AM
Had a quick look on their (German) site, the option is not configurable yet, and from the description pages, it looks like it will be an option, not standard. Seems to be a reaction to the announcement of EV subsidies (4000€) by the German government to cover some price/performance point the marketeers want to cover.
By itself, the price of the i3 (35k€ base), past the new subsidies, is quite a reasonable proposition, especially for the subset of those who value the beemer badge, but don't insist one comes with an inline 6. I haven't seen any in the wild though (as with the Volt ("Ampera" here)), while I've spotted some Model S and the odd Leaf or even E-Golf. Probably there is significant range anxiety below 200km and it doesn't help that the i3's looks are up there with the Pontiac Aztec or Fiat Multipla.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:39PM
I haven't seen any in the wild though (as with the Volt ("Ampera" here)), while I've spotted some Model S and the odd Leaf or even E-Golf. Probably there is significant range anxiety below 200km and it doesn't help that the i3's looks are up there with the Pontiac Aztec or Fiat Multipla.
That's the 3rd flaw: that it'd effin' fugly. I see only one around here ever and from the vanity plate I know that it is the same one every time. Meanwhile we have dozens of Model S's, many Volts, and the occasional Leaf driving around.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:45PM
By itself, the price of the i3 (35k€ base), past the new subsidies, is quite a reasonable proposition, especially for the subset of those who value the beemer badge, but don't insist one comes with an inline 6. I haven't seen any in the wild though (as with the Volt ("Ampera" here)), while I've spotted some Model S and the odd Leaf or even E-Golf. Probably there is significant range anxiety below 200km and it doesn't help that the i3's looks are up there with the Pontiac Aztec or Fiat Multipla.
I have seen quite some i3 around here, it is a surprisingly small car. The look is in the eye of the beholder, I for one don't like it. The range is certainly more than correct for a normal daily commute to work plus usual short trips. Still, considering the size and the fact it would really only be usable as a second car, no way I'd disburse 35k€ for one. For that kind of money, I can get a luxurious enough large family car. And yes, before family, I drove a beemer (2002 330Ci), it's not like I have sth against BMW - I love the looks of the i8, and still mourn that 330Ci. That said, I strongly believe Tesla is on the right track with supercharging stations and their Model 3 - once the supercharging network is built out across Europe, I well might consider a future family-compatible model of theirs.
A while back I did seriously check on an electric motorbike for the commute. Financially, it made no sense whatsoever, so I stayed with my conventional one (still got it, a supermoto, at 14 years; I do believe it makes more sense ecologically to keep that gas-burner than to replace it with an electric bike). You can get a new reasonable one for around 6-7k€, way cheaper than any car, and lots more fun, less congestion etc.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:46PM
My brother bought an i3 second-hand and got it for something like $8-10K. He also owns an SUV but hasn't driven it in the two years since he bought the i3. He lives in Michigan, with all its distances and cold, and commutes from Ypsilanti to Dearborn. He does have the range extender that kicks in for an extra 50 miles on gas, but he said he's only burned 1 gallon of gas doing that in the last 8 months.
In other words, the existing i3 battery can already cover the driving needs of many people; a battery upgrade will cover many more.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @07:15PM
> My brother bought an i3 second-hand and got it for something like $8-10K.
That seems unlikely. Even if the car was registered in a state with extra-generous tax rebates for electrics, total rebates would have only knocked ~$12K off the cost to the first owner. Which means ~$25K off the lot for the lowest spec model. Another ~$15K in depreciation in just a couple of years is pretty steep, even for an electric.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @09:39PM
> That seems unlikely.
I would have agreed with your statement last year, then I started looking at prices of several-year-old Leaf and iMiEV electric cars and they also depreciate a great deal. I don't know what causes this...but can think of two possible reasons:
+ No buyers for a used status symbol -- people that buy these cars for the green image have the money to buy new cars.
+ Very few small cars are selling in any category in the USA. Low gas prices mean trucks, SUVs and large cars are selling in record numbers.
(Score: 2) by schad on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:52PM
I've seen a few in the Atlanta area. About as many as I've seen Volts, actually, which has got to sting.
I had one for a few days as a loaner. I actually liked it quite a lot. The styling is definitely beyond strange, but it's not without a certain appeal. Sort of like a pug [blogspot.com].
Now BMW just needs to come out with something in between the i3 and i8.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 03 2016, @01:59PM
> Now BMW just needs to come out with something in between the i3 and i8.
http://blog.caranddriver.com/bmw-i-chief-i5-ev-model-coming-will-offer-optional-range-extender/ [caranddriver.com]
(Score: 2) by Rich on Tuesday May 03 2016, @03:05PM
The [i3] styling is definitely beyond strange, but it's not without a certain appeal. Sort of like a pug
I actually kind of like the Multipla. If you look at the headlights and think "nostrils" rather than "eyes", those little lights further up become button eyes and the whole car gets the appearance of something friendly hippo-like (although i've heard more people die from hippo than from lion attacks...).
(Score: 2) by theluggage on Tuesday May 03 2016, @06:59PM
By itself, the price of the i3 (35k€ base), past the new subsidies, is quite a reasonable proposition
Really?
The UK price seems to be more like £30k base - I think you get a few k off that as a subsidy.
The i3 small city car. You can get 'small' cars from upmarket brands (e.g. the BMW Mini or the Daimler Smart FourFour) for half of that. (of course, you could also get something practical from the far east for I really like the idea of the i3 but the price is just end-of-argument. From another discussion I understand that some people in the US have got them on ridiculously cheap leases by cunning plans exploiting multiple incentives (probably BMW meeting some sort of state target for EV sales).
(Score: 5, Interesting) by RedBear on Tuesday May 03 2016, @12:59PM
That is interesting. So far it's only been Tesla that was offering battery upgrades to customers with older cars like the Roadster. The auto industry really doesn't know what to do with EV buyers. Half the market for EVs want an EV that can be upgraded over time with a bigger battery for more range, and they even expect the manufacturers to develop and provide these upgrades. We can see that the technology is still in its infancy and is improving quite rapidly. Nobody wants to buy a car that's going to be totally lame with half the range of what new EVs will have within 3-5 years. But the automakers are all like, "You want us to do what now?" They have little interest in doing warranty repairs and recalls, much less doing anything to make an old car better than it was when it was new. They are used to making their money by selling people brand new cars.
On the other hand, Tesla has developed an extremely loyal following and an extremely enthusiastic future customer base because they've developed a reputation for taking care of their customers with awesome software and hardware updates that can make your car better over time. And they started with awesome range to begin with. The 3.0 upgrade for the Roadster gives it, what, over 400 miles of range? They're the only company that presents an image of truly believing in the potential of EVs and the importance of getting off oil for personal transportation. I get the feeling that if the other automakers want to develop such brand loyalty in the EV market they'll have to embrace a slightly different way of doing things. Because there are a lot of signs that battery technology is going to continue to advance for at least a couple of decades, and lots of folks are hesitating to buy EVs due to fears of poor resale value and non-upgradeability. Any brand that can convince people that they'll be taken care of will have an edge in capturing EV market share.
¯\_ʕ◔.◔ʔ_/¯ LOL. I dunno. I'm just a bear.
... Peace out. Got bear stuff to do. 彡ʕ⌐■.■ʔ
(Score: 2) by mmcmonster on Tuesday May 03 2016, @05:55PM
Actually, Tesla has been offering battery updates to Model S owners as well. It's just not advertised as much, and even Musk was discouraging it.
See the second paragraph under 90 kWh Pack here: https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/three-dog-day [teslamotors.com]
(Score: 2) by Geotti on Tuesday May 03 2016, @11:43PM
[...] the i3 has always had a couple of flaws [...]
Yeah, no shittin': like having to open the front door to open the back. WTF were they thinking?