A/C Question

[RoadJager]

We are contemplating a lease of a 2017 BEV as it fits our drive profile without the necessity of REX. Living in Oklahoma, out summer temps and humidity are high. I am looking for your collective experience on the efficiency of the A/C and what it does to range under high temp/humidity conditions.
Also, are there any features we should consider that would be considered in a 'wish I would have gotten' category based on you longer term use.
Thank you for your input ahead of time.
Road Jager
"Living On Tulsa Time"

 

[jadnashuanh]

If you don't mind the 90-seconds it takes to use the solar cover on the i3, it is a good purchase option as it keeps the cabin much closer to ambient verses having a significant solar gain while parked. BMW has said that driving above 25mph with the a/c on is more efficient than with the windows open and it off, It does affect overall maximum range, but keep in mind, higher temps also mean the battery can supply more, too, so it's somewhat of a wash. One of the bigger things is when it is cold out...the BEV reverses the a/c to become a heat pump in milder weather, which is a lot more efficient than the resistance heating which is all the REx has. The BEV has that, too, but only turns it on if it is too cold for the heat pump to function. Tinting, if allowed, also helps. I've not had an issue. Preconditioning can help if you remember to do it, as it then has a bit more time to take the heat off before you ever get into the car...best done while connected to an EVSE, but still helps as it tends to run a bit slower.

 

[bwilson4web]

We are contemplating a lease of a 2017 BEV as it fits our drive profile without the necessity of REX. Living in Oklahoma, out summer temps and humidity are high. I am looking for your collective experience on the efficiency of the A/C and what it does to range under high temp/humidity conditions.
Also, are there any features we should consider that would be considered in a 'wish I would have gotten' category based on you longer term use.
Thank you for your input ahead of time.
Road Jager
"Living On Tulsa Time"

Hi,

We drove through Tulsa on our Labor Day, weekend trip between Huntsville AL and Stillwater OK in our BMW i3-REX. I'm a little surprised you're going BEV given how few, significant chargers are available. Still, whatever 'cranks your tractor.'

One caution about the BMW cover. It works but when it snagged on a wiper blade, the blade came off and the wiper arm snapped down on the windshield and cracked it, $1800 repair. The cover is good but be careful about the windshield wipers.

Bob Wilson

 

[RoadJager]

Thanks Bob,
Hope your tour through our town was enjoyable and hope you had an opportunity to take in some of our sights. We have opted for the BEV as we will not be going out of town with our I3. One of our vehicles is a diesel BMW X5. That will be our 'longlegs' for road tripping. You are correct that we have limited charging stations presently. Please keep in mind that before the title of "Oil Capitol" was moved to Houston, it was originated and resided here in Tulsa for years. Concerning a BEV in Tulsa, reminds me of a song the late Leon Russell sang, "Stranger in a strange land". Here in Tulsa we have recently elected a younger more progressive mayor who is approachable to consider such infrastructure items. We are under a budget crunch but our downtown rebuild has good funding. I keep my fingers crossed.
How did your A/C function during your trip over Labor day through Oklahoma?

 

[engineear]

I survive in Phoenix where the temps get to be 115+. The first few weeks I had it I found out quick that I needed the windows tinted. After that I bought a heat shield for the windshield, the reflective kind. I purchased a towel-like seat cover for the leather seat, helped eliminate sweating on my back, cooled seating is not an option. I haven't precooled yet. The A/C gets cold quickly but when you click it on you'll lose 4+ miles SOC. But, being I only use for city driving, I can regenerate lost miles. There's been a few times I've gotten to work with more miles than when I started, YMMV.
Get the windows tinted, park with the rear of the car toward the sun, find shade.

 

[bwilson4web]

. . .
Hope your tour through our town was enjoyable and hope you had an opportunity to take in some of our sights. . . .
How did your A/C function during your trip over Labor day through Oklahoma?

I was born in Stillwater which is still the home for Mom and my late-Dad families. It was a celebration of an Aunt Sandra and Uncle Frank wedding anniversary that both Mom and Aunt Jane flew in. So we also got to experience:

• Ponca City earthquake
• chiggers
• see Aunt Sandra's new oil well and the feeder pipes from neighbors (big royalties)

We took Hw 51 because it runs past late-Grandmother Wilson's farm now the home of estranged (and strange) cousins. It is also easier to hold 65 mph and past the cemetery where Mom's father is buried (died in WW-II.) I attended OSU before the draft and depression led me to the Marines.

Mom lives in Coffeyville and typically flies in and out of Tulsa. Tulsa is where she goes for specialists. I do love the suspended planes and engine displays in the airport.

As for the A/C, no problem but my wife prefers mid 70s. It was Labor Day weekend and instead of getting 40 MPG, we got 39 MPG. But we also had her folding wheelchair on the carrier on the back (advantage purchase over lease.) For cross-country trips, you really need the REX but around town, no. I actually ran 66 days and got the alert that I needed to run the engine. Any loss of in-town mileage is made up for by the cross-country utility.

Bob Wilson

ps. It was Tulsa where I saw "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" by the late-Leon Russell and late-Joe Cocker. Looks like my expiration date approaches.