BMW i3?

[Anonymous]

Anyone have one? Thinking of picking up a used one for my regular commute into my new office (will be going from DC to NoVA for a new job).

I see a lot of them in my neighborhood and it would actually be able to fit in our tiny backyard behind my rowhouse for charging.

Is it purely electric, or is there some sort of hybrid component? We already have an Outback for longer drives and roadtrips.

[Anonymous]

Battery only. Consider a Mini Electric for a better, sport oriented driving experience. The i3 has a unique carbon monocoque design which can be a bit harsh and choppy. It’s good at basic tasks around a city. Drive one.

[Anonymous]

I am a BMW fan and have the traditional gas 3 series.

The i3 has grown on me. I did not like the look at first but like that its electric. How are repairs?

[Anonymous]

The i3 has versions with the range extender which is a little Kymco scooter motor. If you use the right programming app, you can enable “hold state of charge” that lets you turn it on arbitrarily. It’s great for long drives. We did Boston to DC and DC to New Orleans several times.

The battery is small but the car is an amazing city runabout. It’s deceptively large inside. The turning radius is tiny. It’s like driving a street-legal go-cart. I regret selling ours.

Make sure you get one with DC fast charging. Some of the early ones didn’t have it, basically ruling out refilling the “tank” in 15-30 mins at a DC fast charger.