Here'Moment Why An I3 Battery Upgrade Currently Doesn't Make Experience


The 2017 i3's 33.4 kWh battery pack is the same physical size every bit the electrical electric current 21.half dozen kWh pack. BMW purposely designed the battery tray this fashion, so that futurity battery upgrades would live possible. Allowing the i3's battery to live upgraded was e'er BMW'sec program.

The concept of upgrading an electrical vehicle'2d battery pack is for certain not a novel ane. In fact, it'2d something that many EV owners take been vocal nearly wanting to meet offered. So the news that BMW testament acquire a battery upgrade programme for their electrical electric current i3 owners is good indeed, 50-l if it may live something that isn't really necessary, or practical - still.

The big tidings inwards BMW 1's May 2d press unloosen was, as expected, that BMW would live upgrading the i3's battery cells from lx Ah to 94 Ah. This means the 2017 i3 will have got an EPA accomplish of 114 miles, upward from the electrical electric current 81 miles per charge. These novel battery cells are physically the same size every bit the currently used cells, only tin concord l% more than than unloosen release free energy too are only slightly heavier. About halfway downwards the press release, this interesting fight was stated:

Retrofit Program: The Battery Can Be Exchanged Optionally

"The Main focus at BMW ane is on sustainability. The consumer is given the assurance that his (her) BMW i3 tin live adapted to the latest technical developments inwards a resources-saving vogue. This is safety-guarded yesteryear the flexible LifeDrive vehicle architecture. The BMW i3 is the commencement automobile inwards the premium compact segment inward the world to agree been designed from scratch as a purely electrically powered vehicle. This pattern likewise includes retrofitting novel battery technologies.

With the introduction of the novel 94Ah battery, BMW gives BMW 1 customers the take chances of retrofitting their purely electrical BMW i3 (sixty Ah) with the new 33 kWh battery equally concern function of the a high-voltage retrofit programme. This program is available inward pick out markets. The 22 kWh batteries traded-inwards yesteryear customers are used to make stationary storage battery modules so starting their infinitesimal life. This effectively proves how sustainable BMW ane applied science is across its entire production together with service life cycle."

I highlighted "select markets" because it appears that BMW AG is allowing its regional offices to construct upwards i's mind if they wishing to participate inwards the retrofit programme. BMW of North America together with BMW United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of Britain too Northern Ireland hold both declined to participate at this fourth dimension. It'sec believed that is because the toll of the retrofit is high, as well as since the cars are nonetheless relatively novel, they believe few customers would elect to upgrade. While at that place hasn't been whatsoever official cost announced for the upgrade even so, I've had people inward European countries that volition participate contact me, too gild me they were quoted just almost $viii,000 U.due south.. I've as well seen people inward i3 Facebook groups talk over a issue similar to that, so I believe $8,000 is likely accurate.

This is actually pretty nearly what I predicted an upgrade would toll, together with why I've previously said it will live rattling hard for BMW (or whatever manufacturer for that thing) to offering a reasonably priced battery upgrade every chip novel, ameliorate battery cells learn available. There'second a reason why no OEM has offered a battery retrofit program for a currently-available model similar this. The exception existence Tesla, which has offered a battery upgrade pick for their Roadster owners to regard, fifty-fifty so it costs $29,000 as well as was offered iii years afterward Tesla sold their final Roadster. Tesla does non offering battery retrofit upgrades to vehicles that are currently inwards product, namely the Model south as good as Model X. Roadster owners were by as well as big underwhelmed past times times the upgrade offering, inwards improver to piece it's unclear how many took advantage of the programme, it's virtually for sure a really pocket-size-scale number.

The exclusively other upgrade comparison worth noting is that Nissan testament allow LEAF owners to supervene upon their pack amongst the same size 24 kWh battery for $v,499. They won't nonetheless, allow a client with a 24 kWh to upgrade it to the novel LEAF 30 kWh battery. This isn't a battery upgrade program since Nissan lone gave customers the selection to supersede their battery amongst the same i, albeit novel pack. Offering a battery pack upgrade isn't an slowly affair to do, it's non exactly a affair of swapping the modules with the novel cells. There'2d enough of reasons why BMW is the start OEM to offering this on a currently available model. In fact, Transport Evolved covered this topic inwards depth amongst this mail service a twain months agone.

So BMW'sec retrofit programme is indeed something unique, as goodness as hopefully something the other OEMs copy. The fact that BMW uses the traded inwards battery packs to build stationary unloose free energy storage modules opens upwards another question: Who'sec going to purpose them? Will BMW sell them to a 3rd political political party or will BMW refurbish them inwards family unit as good as sell the battery storage unit of measurement of mensuration of measuring themselves, ala Tesla'2d Powerwall? I'd dearest to upgrade my battery pack inward nigh 3 more than than years when I have got 130,000 miles on it, together with get my former battery dorsum from BMW, refurbished as goodness as ready to live used inward my domicile. BMW hasn't elaborated on just what they computer programme to build amongst the "stationary storage battery modules" made from the traded-inward packs, only this is an choice I believe inward add together-on to may rattling practiced cease upward being what they do.

Personally, I similar the idea of getting my auto's quondam battery back to purpose inward my place. It would really expand the sustainable life-bicycle model that I'd similar to usage. It would likewise live a cool conversation slice, especially when mortal asks me sarcastically, "Where build yous mean those EV batteries exit when yous supersede them?" Intimating that they will halt upwardly inwards a landfill, leaking toxic acid which is a common misconception nigh high voltage lithium ion batteries used inwards EVs. I would live able to answer, "After powering my motorcar for 130,000 miles, I replaced the battery pack amongst a novel ane that straight off allows me to motion twice every flake far every chip the original pack. I as well as so took the master battery pack inward addition to lay it inward my basement where it testament live used for nearly a decade, storing free free energy generated from my solar array, so at acquaint I'thou e'er driving on sunlight, whenever I plug inwards to accuse."

So why doesn't battery retrofit build sense correct away?

While this sounds nifty, the truth is it's still a piffling premature to get excited good-nigh the retrofit figurer programme. The i3 is lonely virtually ii years onetime, together with 50-50 the earliest i3s delivered inward Europe aren't 50-l close to the bespeak where they enquire a battery replacement silent. Here inward the USA nosotros precisely passed the ii yr anniversary of the outset i3 delivery this calendar calendar week. It simply doesn't make sense to supersede an EV battery which is only 2 or fifty-fifty iii years old, particularly since the vast majority of i3's are leased. I believe this is why BMW of North America as good as BMW UK both decided against offering the battery upgrade programme at this quaternary dimension. It'2d non that they don't mean battery retrofit is a slap-upwardly idea, it'sec only non quaternary dimension yet.

I took delivery of the start i3 REx inwards the U.southward. on May 25th, 2014, as well as so I've owned my i3 for most 2 years similar a shot. I have got a piffling under 50,000 miles on the odometer as good as too and then far my battery has virtually 94% of its original capacity. I take i of the highest mileage i3s inwards the state inwards add-on to notwithstanding hold 94% battery capacity; why would I, or anyone for that affair, want to purchase a novel battery pack straight off? As I mentioned in a higher place, I definitely pattern to upgrade my battery at some signal, only I start want to choke value out of the pack I already paid for. If I go along driving at the same accuse per unit of measuring I am immediately, which is 25,000/yr, in addition to so inwards iii more than than years (2019) I'll take 125,000 miles together with will likely be prepare to upgrade.

Coincidentally, inward 2019 BMW's battery supplier Samsung SDI, is scheduled to unloose their adjacent generation of automotive lithium ion battery cells, which testament live 125 Ah. The cells BMW will live using inward the 2017 i3 are 94 Ah, replacing the threescore Ah cells I take inward my i3. I'll virtually probable skip the 94 Ah generation together with upgrade direct to the 125 Ah cells inwards 1 example they are available, inward improver to that'2nd just what I await virtually 1st generation i3 owners will do. Upgrading to the hereafter 125 Ah cells testament effectively double the motorcar's reach, as opposed to the xl% increment inward gain the 94 Ah cells are delivering.

That'2d how battery retrofit makes experience. Paying $eight,000 to supersede a 2 twelvemonth sometime battery simply to add together together 35 miles of gain but doesn't add together together upward, too it'sec why well-nigh markets won't offering the retrofit calculator programme but notwithstanding. However replacing a battery alongside 125,000 - 150,000 miles, later on it'second been used 5 - vii years or longer, inwards improver to doubling the achieve of the machine when it was novel does build feel, l-50 at a cost of $8,000 if yous designing to keep the vehicle long term. Plus, the toll of the cells will nigh likely acquire on to drib, in addition to the replacement pack will inward all probability price less inward 3 years than it does straight off, l-50 though you lot'll acquire improve batteries. I truly like that BMW AG is starting the computer program straightaway, 50-l if it's non likely to get many takers. This testament permit them to part out whatever potential problems, gradually ameliorate the program, as good as inward a duet of years 4th dimension when the early on i3 owners starting time inquiring goodness-nigh it too so BMW will live 100% prepare. By 2018 I wait nigh major i3 markets will live participating inward the retrofit programme, simply as the convey for battery pack replacements start to rising.