The construction methodology of the i3 is a limiting factor on how many they can build economically. They're still building them about as fast as they can, and profitably from all reports. No EV is a really high volume machine, and with the still poor EVSE and CCS networks around the country, and the long ranges between anything in parts of the US, an EV just doesn't make sense a lot of places. Throw in rear-wheel drive when the common person wants front-wheel or all-wheel also becomes a limiting factor. Generally, city streets tend to get cleared sooner than the boonies and there's less drifting and such, which supports the mega-city use - the main commuter streets are clear. The nature of the i3 is best for running around and to a nearby city, with a lot of those miles in the city. There, the tight turning circle and shorter length make it much easier to navigate and park. It was built for the average daily use of around 30-40 miles, which means, even at its worst battery performance in the middle of a cold spell, it can still easily provide the needed range. Yes, you can use the car in other ways, but the basis of the design was shorter distances, narrow streets, small turning circle, and some fun along the way. ONe has to agree, it is a blast to leave most things at the stoplight if you wish. The size of the motor and the battery were optimized for those characteristics. The power/weight ratio beats most others out there as does the efficiency. A bigger battery pack would add more weight, and likely, the gains would not be a linear add-on. Eventually (and BMW has already said they have better batteries in the lab) there will be longer range without added weight. It was not intended to replace an ICE that because of the quick refill, and essentially universal access to fuel, can just keep going. The i3 BEV has the equivalent of less than a gallon of gasoline, yet is rated at 124mpge...better than pretty much anything else out there. Throw in the REx, and you have (small, but real) maintenance issues, higher weight, and lower mpge. For some, a perceived, but maybe not real, requirement. For what I use my BEV for, I don't have range anxiety. I find my ICE more comfortable on longer trips, and to me, sitting in an i3 REx for hours on end, stopping at least every hour to refill the tank, is just not a comfortable way to take a trip. Yes, my ICE is more costly, but I put up with it, some are more focused on the energy costs, and do not. Added into the inconvenience of stopping, I just do not see the i3 as a long-distance vehicle, and, the seats, steering, ride, etc. weren't designed for it either. Yes you can use it that way, fine by me, I could care less what others do, it's just not my way of doing things.
I do not know of any vehicle sold that matches my preference list, everything is a compromise. All you can do is try to understand what those compromises are, and decide if you can put up with them, preferably, before you purchase a vehicle. BMW makes it fairly easy for people to try out an i3 for a several day outing to evaluate it. That should be long enough to decide if things are acceptable. To repeatedly beat on minor things after the fact just sounds like whining. It is what it is, and was done for a reason. YOu may not like it, but that's the way it is. BMW spent lots of time working out the vehicle. The details on the REx's operation were not their preference, and negotiations went on almost until the day it was officially released. It is much easier to have one baseline in the country. It used to be that there were vehicles made specifically for CA, but today, that is a rarity. Other places in the country put up with various things that they don't need to as a result, but it also means the manufacturer can redirect a vehicle anywhere, and people can move and not worry about trying to retrofit bits to meet CA's rules. As it is, CA is probably the biggest EV market in the entire USA...training, and parts, and support all work more efficiently when you only have one baseline for the REx. It's not like after officially introduced for sale that they changed things, either. It really doesn't matter how it works elsewhere, you should buy it based on how it is sold here. If it doesn't meet your needs, don't, or be prepared to deal with it as the vehicle goes into the dealer's for maintenance, as any software update generally erases any coding you may have done.
