What name would you like to appear in the review?
Martin Heuter
What is the make and model of your EV?
BMW i3 REx
What year was your EV registered?
2015
How long have you owned your EV?
2 – 3 years
What is your estimated annual mileage?
under 5,000
What is the mileage on your EV?
1,000 – 5,000 miles
How many EVs have you owned?
This is my first
What is the average mileage range you achieve from your EV when fully charged?
75
Get our FREE ‘BMW i3 Guide’ e-mailed directly to your inbox
Why did you choose this car?
The i3 stands out from most other EVs due to its shape, its interior and driving experience. It is also one of very few EVs which offer a petrol back up (so legally a hybrid), which, however, I hardly ever use. That backup is essential in the area I live in (West Wales) and commute into (mid-Wales) due to the low density of charging points.
Positives – List 3 or more reasons why you love this car.
- the shape
- the driving experience
- petrol back up for emergencies.
Negatives – List 3 or more things that you really don’t like about this car.
Dealer back up – I have to drive to Swansea at the moment for anything EV related. This will hopefully change in the next year or so as local garages will have the experience and equipment to manage the EV side of things.
Have you experienced any faults with the car? If so, what have they been?
None.
What are the standout tech features of the car?
The seamless transition from EV to petrol backup (if needed). Preconditioning of the battery in cold(er) weather; heated seats; Eco Pro and Eco Pro Plus settings, helping to save energy; ability to choose routes based on Eco Pro Plus settings. Remote pre-conditioning and charging of the car.
Surprise us! Tell us something people wouldn’t readily know about this car.
The i3 was/is an experimental car for BMW – the first one they mass produced. It’s built from aluminium (chassis) and recycled plastic in a factory that is carbon neutral (and always has been). The batteries can/will be recycled by BMW (although the warranty extends to 8 years/100,000 miles) which shows the confidence which BMW have put into these batteries.
Rate your EV out of 5.
What car are you interested in next and why?
I am not thinking about replacing the i3 for quite a few years (am currently doing less than 4,000 miles/year and the car has only done 25,000 miles).
What home charging unit do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
Ordinary wall charger (3 point plug).
Rate your home charging unit out of 5.
What home electricity supplier & tariff do you use? Would you recommend it to others and why?
Normal electricity supplier (Bulb)
Rate your electricity supplier out of 5.
What public charging networks would you recommend to others and why?
Any provider which enables the user to use a normal debit/credit card.
List your top 3 favourite public charging networks (in order of preference).
- Dragon Charging (Wales)
- Ecotricity
- Pod Point.
Who do you insure your EV with? Would you recommend them to others and why?
Axa – cheapest in the market when I took out insurance. No experience of their service as not needed yet.
Rate your insurance provider out of 5.
Estimate how much money you save per month owning and running an EV compared to a petrol/diesel car.
£50.
See other owner reviews here
