BMW I3 - Do I need one?

[NewcastleFalcon]

They will become a collectors piece soon, production being brought to a close after 9 years

Story here
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 04#p708404

Regards Neil

[xantia_v6]

The i3 could not go on much longer without a major face-lift. It needed a bit more range, a more usable infotainment system and some improvements to the passenger ergonomics. The i3 has probably never been profitable for BMW, and they have not shown much interest in updating the design through its production life.

BMW now have the electric Mini (which I believe borrows a lot of drivetrain technology from the i3) which is more mainstream and probably a lot cheaper to produce.

I would still like to own an i3, but not yet.

[GiveMeABreak]

I'd hold on for Musk's new sub £20k range he has coming out sometime in 2023. I think these aren't built around the battery, but have much greater range.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new- ... al-vw-id-3

[NewcastleFalcon]

May be a little later than 2023

The very latest utterances from the horses mouth are here as reported on the Electric Vehicles Whats Available thread.

Meanwhile TESLA quotes too much on their plate to develop their much vaunted $25,000 EV right now.

Tesla is not working on its $25,000 electric car at the moment, says Elon Musk

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

There's a guy on one of the news comments pages saying he sells German cars and he wouldn't touch an EV with a bargepole because the batteries have failed after 4-5 years and cost a fortune to replace.
Sounds like bullsh to me, anyone know?

[NewcastleFalcon]

There's a guy on one of the news comments pages saying he sells German cars and he wouldn't touch an EV with a bargepole because the batteries have failed after 4-5 years and cost a fortune to replace.
Sounds like bullsh to me, anyone know?

Looks like 'it, smells like 'it, tastes like 'it....good job we didn't step in it.

Blokes on the internet who say stuff....don't believe a word, if you want facts ask the bloke down the pub.

Regards Neil

[GiveMeABreak]

The Dealer who took as into town one day in an electric C Zero (whilst my X7 was having work done - again) mentioned that the batteries on those to replace were a mere £6000....

.... he was wrong, either that or inflation has caught up, as I just checked now for a traction battery and it's a mere £15,437.27 plus labour of course.

...time to get the running shoes on.

[Gibbo2286]

Have a look at Llewelin's podcast here, it's a bt long but he gets into the nitty gritty.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Any readers of "The Hydrogen Thread" will be able to make their own minds up, but will be familiar with some of the myths which surround Hydrogen suitably ranted on about by Robert. Japan hope to build an economy on it as long as they can burn enough of Australia's super abundant coal and build enough liquid Hydrogen Ships, but as Robert pointed out it takes an awful lot of energy to produce it in any quantities, never mind economy running quantities.
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 04#p707904
-------

.... he was wrong, either that or inflation has caught up, as I just checked now for a traction battery and it's a mere £15,437.27 plus labour of course.

traction.JPG

...time to get the running shoes on.

Here's a relevant post I put on Bargain Basement Electric. Nissan UK aren't really trying either...
https://www.frenchcarforum.co.uk/forum/ ... 85#p696785

REgards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Pretty as a picture

Regards Neil

[xantia_v6]

Seeing as the topic has drifted, on the subject of battery packs, this local (to me) company is teasing that they will soon have brand-new, improved after-market battery packs for the Leaf, incorporating active cooling:



Not likely to be suitable for your bargain basement shopper.

The driving shots of the the leaf on the mountain road are taken on the summit road on Banks Peninsular just east of Mount Sugarloaf (you can just see the base on the transmission tower in one shot). It is part of my regular walking route from home.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Seeing as the topic has drifted, on the subject of battery packs, this local (to me) company is teasing that they will soon have brand-new, improved after-market battery packs for the Leaf, incorporating active cooling:

Not likely to be suitable for your bargain basement shopper.

The driving shots of the the leaf on the mountain road are taken on the summit road on Banks Peninsular just east of Mount Sugarloaf (you can just see the base on the transmission tower in one shot). It is part of my regular walking route from home.

That is an excellent video. I will port it across to the more on topic "Electric Cars Batteries and recycling", or the "Bargain Basement Electric thread", although as you say it is unlikely to be a bargain basement price, but it does appear an excellent product in the making. I think that unless capital costs of replacement batteries come down, for the replacement market, then a leasing model for replacement batteries makes sense.

I thought the picture may have put the thread back on topic, because if someone is considering a BMWi3, which was made in decent quantities and will soon become only available second hand, it is one of the likely candidates for an initial plunge into the near bargain basement EV category. The real bargain basement category is currently only populated by the Leaf, and the Zoe of any note.

Near bargain Basement, can a case be made for buying one



Regards Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

This is a May 2021 car.

Is February in the UK the time when cars look their grubbiest Saw a Zoe the other day with a very grubby rear.

Regards Neil

[Gibbo2286]

The black shows up the muck Neil, I washed mine at the weekend and it's already looking grubby.

[GiveMeABreak]

I think it's a common issue with 'flat facing vertical' rear end vehicles. I have the same in the Aircross. A thorough wash and one trip later, there's already a coat of dirt. It's the camera that I have to keep cleaning. Must be the air flow dynamics of these types of vehicle.