Range question for i3s users
Discussion
Do you mean average speed of 60? In which case definitely not as you'd have to be driving pretty hard to do that.
However, if you mean using 60 as a target speed when the road is clear; then yes it will. I go from South of Banbury to Tamworth and back quite regularly. In winter, if I set the cruise at 60 on the M40, M42, A5 then it will just do the return trip of 140. It's on the limit for me though. Today, it would be easy.
2019 I3S 120aH 66,000 miles
However, if you mean using 60 as a target speed when the road is clear; then yes it will. I go from South of Banbury to Tamworth and back quite regularly. In winter, if I set the cruise at 60 on the M40, M42, A5 then it will just do the return trip of 140. It's on the limit for me though. Today, it would be easy.
2019 I3S 120aH 66,000 miles
“Even the newest i3 with the 120Ah battery realistically manages 100 120 miles in cold weather at motorway speeds. So 130 miles at a steady 60 mph in winter is:
At the very upper limit for the 120Ah model (and only with very efficient driving),
And not possible with the older 94Ah version without a recharge.
You might make it if:
You have the 120Ah i3 (2019+),
Weather is cold but not freezing, and
You drive efficiently (e.g. heat pump use, eco mode, no hard acceleration).
But it s risky if:
You have the older 94Ah version,
Temperatures are near or below freezing,
There s any headwind, elevation gain, or traffic,
You re using climate control liberally”
Fair amount of missing info on your question, OP, but to give you my experience:
I had a '21 120ah i3s, and the absolute worst range I encountered was 110 miles, which was 4am on a November morning at -2c.
We travelled from Surrey to Moto Rugby services, which is 100 miles (95 of which are motorway). All of it was at the speed limit, using lights, AC and heated seats, with two people and a full boot of holiday gear.
I had a '21 120ah i3s, and the absolute worst range I encountered was 110 miles, which was 4am on a November morning at -2c.
We travelled from Surrey to Moto Rugby services, which is 100 miles (95 of which are motorway). All of it was at the speed limit, using lights, AC and heated seats, with two people and a full boot of holiday gear.
What age of car, and how long into the future do you need this range?
Is there a margin built in to the question, or do you intend pushing things to the limit?
I don't like being on a motorway with less than 50 miles of spare diesel.
When the traffic gets bad, you never know if it's going to get worse.
Is there a margin built in to the question, or do you intend pushing things to the limit?
I don't like being on a motorway with less than 50 miles of spare diesel.
When the traffic gets bad, you never know if it's going to get worse.
OutInTheShed said:
What age of car, and how long into the future do you need this range?
Is there a margin built in to the question, or do you intend pushing things to the limit?
I don't like being on a motorway with less than 50 miles of spare diesel.
When the traffic gets bad, you never know if it's going to get worse.
The worse the traffic the better for an EV typically (range wise)Is there a margin built in to the question, or do you intend pushing things to the limit?
I don't like being on a motorway with less than 50 miles of spare diesel.
When the traffic gets bad, you never know if it's going to get worse.
OutInTheShed said:
Surely that's only true up to a point?
Slow is 'good' but stop/start accelerate/brake is 'bad', but not as 'bad' as with petrol?
It's a good question. Regenerative braking is a lot more efficient than you'd think though. It's along the lines of 70%.Slow is 'good' but stop/start accelerate/brake is 'bad', but not as 'bad' as with petrol?
When upping the speed, wind resistance goes mad basically. It's a simple question of aerodynamics vs regenerative braking.
Putting in some numbers on some napkin math, with two scenarios: one car driving 100km/h for an hour, the other one constantly going from 30 to 50, also doing 100km, the total consumption of the one going 100km/h is 60% higher by my math. Might be a bit optimistic with the regen scenario, but I'm very confident in saying (also by anecdotal experience) that driving in a traffic jam/city ups the range immensely.
ZesPak said:
OutInTheShed said:
Surely that's only true up to a point?
Slow is 'good' but stop/start accelerate/brake is 'bad', but not as 'bad' as with petrol?
It's a good question. Regenerative braking is a lot more efficient than you'd think though. It's along the lines of 70%.Slow is 'good' but stop/start accelerate/brake is 'bad', but not as 'bad' as with petrol?
When upping the speed, wind resistance goes mad basically. It's a simple question of aerodynamics vs regenerative braking.
Putting in some numbers on some napkin math, with two scenarios: one car driving 100km/h for an hour, the other one constantly going from 30 to 50, also doing 100km, the total consumption of the one going 100km/h is 60% higher by my math. Might be a bit optimistic with the regen scenario, but I'm very confident in saying (also by anecdotal experience) that driving in a traffic jam/city ups the range immensely.
Nobody wants to be doing 30km/h if they've got 200km to do in a day.
s
tty motorway traffic is often oscillating between 40 and 60 mph or 60 to 100 km/h.People report great range pottering around the suburbs. But motorway, winter, car well into its middle age, won't be so great.
There are other EVs to choose, which had much more range when new, which now have many more years ahead of them being able to do 130+ miles in a day. These alternatives will likely be a better solution in the long run?
In the real world, maybe if you like the i3, then it's an option if you've got the possibility to bail out and shove a bit of charge in when it gets marginal.
Trouble is, the i3 has its fans so is still expensive for the range it delivers. You can buy a newer Kona with range to spare for a few quid more , that will be cheaper in the long run. Plenty of people want to buy an i3 for 20 mile commute.
OutInTheShed said:
The question was about doing 130 miles in a day. That's about 200km?
Nobody wants to be doing 30km/h if they've got 200km to do in a day.
stty motorway traffic is often oscillating between 40 and 60 mph or 60 to 100 km/h.
People report great range pottering around the suburbs. But motorway, winter, car well into its middle age, won't be so great.
There are other EVs to choose, which had much more range when new, which now have many more years ahead of them being able to do 130+ miles in a day. These alternatives will likely be a better solution in the long run?
In the real world, maybe if you like the i3, then it's an option if you've got the possibility to bail out and shove a bit of charge in when it gets marginal.
Trouble is, the i3 has its fans so is still expensive for the range it delivers. You can buy a newer Kona with range to spare for a few quid more , that will be cheaper in the long run. Plenty of people want to buy an i3 for 20 mile commute.
100% agree with this. They're a great city car and for the odd longer trip but wouldn't be my first choice for regular high speed drives as the efficiency drops considerably and not the most stable of cars thanks to their shape, short wheelbase and relatively narrow tyres.Nobody wants to be doing 30km/h if they've got 200km to do in a day.
s
tty motorway traffic is often oscillating between 40 and 60 mph or 60 to 100 km/h.People report great range pottering around the suburbs. But motorway, winter, car well into its middle age, won't be so great.
There are other EVs to choose, which had much more range when new, which now have many more years ahead of them being able to do 130+ miles in a day. These alternatives will likely be a better solution in the long run?
In the real world, maybe if you like the i3, then it's an option if you've got the possibility to bail out and shove a bit of charge in when it gets marginal.
Trouble is, the i3 has its fans so is still expensive for the range it delivers. You can buy a newer Kona with range to spare for a few quid more , that will be cheaper in the long run. Plenty of people want to buy an i3 for 20 mile commute.
The reality is your be much better off with a Kona, Corsa E, Zoe etc. With 50kWh batteries if looking for a comfortable 150 miles (including 10% buffer) all year round.
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