Yesterday I took my 2017 i3 REX 94ah for an impromptu road trip from Houston to Austin, Texas. The drive is about 160 miles one way and includes both interstate and highways with speed limits as high as 75 mph. The highway becomes very hilly about 60 miles south of Austin, which is also when my battery was depleted and the REX kicked in.
The i3 could not keep up. With battery power, I was going about 85mph. Going up a hill, this speed bled off to as low as 55mph. It was just me in the car along with negligible belongings. It was about 60 degrees outside, but I had the climate control turned off.
Coming back with a full charge, I was able to get past the hilly highways on battery. The REX kicked on Interstate 10, which was mostly flat outside of Houston. Whereas I was normally going about 80mph on battery, the REX only managed about 70 to 75mph.
This is my second i3 but first REX. I had a 2015 BEV before taking delivery of the REX in October. I had seen some brief mentions about reduced power mode before but assumed it was under rare, extreme circumstances.
My cursory research says that this reduced power mode could be US-specific, as the REX only kicks on at 5% state of charge. And that it is possible to have the dealer have the REX kick on earlier.
Clearly I will not be taking the i3 on another road trip anytime soon. But this trip came up so suddenly my local BMW dealer didn't have any loaners, and the local car rental place was out of cars too.
It's a rare but realistic situation. I still love the car (it was surprisingly enjoyable to drive on the twisty roads outside Austin before the power loss) but wish I had been made more aware of this significant limitation. Although, if I had been made more aware, I'm not sure it would've altered my buying decision significantly since a) my lease payments are only $1 more versus the 2015 REX and b) there were no BEVs available.
Any advice? Has anybody had the dealer program the REX to turn on earlier?
The i3 could not keep up. With battery power, I was going about 85mph. Going up a hill, this speed bled off to as low as 55mph. It was just me in the car along with negligible belongings. It was about 60 degrees outside, but I had the climate control turned off.
Coming back with a full charge, I was able to get past the hilly highways on battery. The REX kicked on Interstate 10, which was mostly flat outside of Houston. Whereas I was normally going about 80mph on battery, the REX only managed about 70 to 75mph.
This is my second i3 but first REX. I had a 2015 BEV before taking delivery of the REX in October. I had seen some brief mentions about reduced power mode before but assumed it was under rare, extreme circumstances.
My cursory research says that this reduced power mode could be US-specific, as the REX only kicks on at 5% state of charge. And that it is possible to have the dealer have the REX kick on earlier.
Clearly I will not be taking the i3 on another road trip anytime soon. But this trip came up so suddenly my local BMW dealer didn't have any loaners, and the local car rental place was out of cars too.
It's a rare but realistic situation. I still love the car (it was surprisingly enjoyable to drive on the twisty roads outside Austin before the power loss) but wish I had been made more aware of this significant limitation. Although, if I had been made more aware, I'm not sure it would've altered my buying decision significantly since a) my lease payments are only $1 more versus the 2015 REX and b) there were no BEVs available.
Any advice? Has anybody had the dealer program the REX to turn on earlier?