BMW i3 REx roadtrip, charging, coding, and range test.

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So you wanted to know why BMW crippled the range extender on the i3? Well, they wanted to meet a special classification in California and other CARB states that would allow them to get ZEV credits (zero-emission vehicle credits) for this vehicle even though it is technically a plug-in hybrid.
One of the rules they had to meet was that the range extender had to have less range than the battery range. Since the EPA ended up rating the car lower than they originally thought, they had to reduce the size of the gas tank. Another crazy rule they had to meet was that the range extender not be available unless the battery was fully depleted. So that was why they removed the hold mode as well.
As a result, the USA version of the car has a much less capable range extender. Nevertheless, the REx works absolutely fine in the city even when crippled. However, fast highway travel or long climbs up mountain passes can be a problem. If you plan to do that, you need the hold mode so that you can engage the REx while the battery is still at 75%. This will ensure that you don't lose any performance of the vehicle while operating on gasoline.

[@theblubus]

"I'm not going to talk about cup holders or sun visors. I'll leave that to the 'professionals' " Shots fired! Doug Demuro's quirks and features never saw it coming lol

[@ominous-omnipresent-they]

I was thinking Doug as well, LOL!

[@lilnigga2052]

White ppl beef

[@zigafide]

@@lilnigga2052 lmfao

[@pepeshadilay]

You tube boxing match coming soon

[@james-tennis]

Just a little tip for i3 owners who get it coded for the hold mode. You can go into the menus and put the hold as one of your hotkey/shortcuts (normally used for radio stations). I set it to the last one, I believe #8, just hold down #8 on that hold menu and it'll save it there (be sure it's the actual menu item to turn the gas engine on, not just get access to that menu). Then anytime you need it and are below 75% battery, you can press #8 and it'll turn on the gas engine. The beauty of this is that I found the first time I got it coded, I had to bring the car back in for a service update. Then boom, the default US settings were put back in and I couldn't access that menu! I had to go back to the person who coded it, pay him a little bit of money, and get it recoded back in. That's when I added it to my hotkey/shortcut. Since then, the dealership has reset my settings (likely from firmware updates) and so I can no longer access the hold section in the menu *** BUT *** thankfully the hotkey setting is still there and it still functions! So it's funny because it still lets me hold it by pressing #8 but I can't access that anywhere else in the menus! I don't use the hotkeys for anything else so I'm not at risk of changing it, but if you do this trick, make sure you don't change it otherwise after a firmware update you won't be able to add the hold key again unless you get it recoded. I've since brought the car to the dealership a few times, I believe they updated firmware each time, and also have updated things for recalls, and my handy #8 menu item is still there. It really allows for long distance driving (like 200+ miles) doable without having to worry about losing power... it acts like a normal car and you can breathe a huge sigh of relief not worrying about it. Yes it's annoying refilling often, but it's better than not getting to your destination or having to rely on a rental.

[@Mandocammando]

Will the code work for any i3?

[@james-tennis]

Just i3 with the extra Rex engine I believe it will work. It's already there for European market which is why all the cars have it. It's just hidden from the US market because of regulations or stipulations that I won't get in to. But rest assured every i3 Rex can do it since it's built in.

[@zeigrei4501]

Thinking of getting one for LA driving. I’m still confused what the “hold” mode does? Does it just give more mileage

[@DigitalM00nlight]

@@zeigrei4501 Late, but hold mode holds the battery at whatever state of charge it's at when you activate it and uses the gas engine to power the motor. If you drive too fast it will still drain the battery rather than hold it but it lets you maintain more power and speed because the battery is not empty and can provide spurts of power when needed (such as passing on the highway)

[@rogerhudson9732]

@@DigitalM00nlight I think that driving on the flat roads 56mph is the sweet spot where the REx holds the charge at the level where it was activated.

[@joslinnick]

When I drove this car, the thing I really liked about it was the excellent visibility. It had better visibility than any other car I can remember driving.

[@B008S]

I used to have the i3 but i wasn't getting the best performance, so I upgraded to the i7. Now im getting much higher fps lol

[@mikat1914]

Thanks for the video seems like a big pain in the ass too me . All this charging totally ridiculous .

[@alierengam1749]

i have a intel i5 (:

[@Tobi_DarkKnight]

I used to have a P4 but now I got an Xeon E3. And about cars: I had a BMW M3 E46(I had looked it like the M3 GTR in NFS Most Wanted) but it got stolen...

[@choddo]

@@mikat1914 do you not need to stop at fuel stations? It’s a bit like that but slower and less stinky and climate changing. The 60Ah i3 is quite old and has been doubled now so the practicality has improved a lot and other cars have even more range and much faster charging.

[@fredricknilsson7]

You need to disable antivirus since its taking resources and you should install an M2 gen 5 disc.

[@TAVIII]

the i3 isn't great for gaming

[@PrincessZoey]

hey it's okay. gaming is mostly about the single core performance and they mostly only need 2 cores!

[@Anitrex006]

PrincessZoey97 Nope. That was 2 years ago. A lot of newer games need 4 cores or atleast 2 cores with hyper-threading (4 virtual cores in total) without which performance suffers significantly.

[@PrincessZoey]

+Anitrex006 eh in battlefield 1 the core i3 gets 10 less frames than the i5/i7. source: LinusTechTips Battlefield 1 benchmark video.

[@Anitrex006]

PrincessZoey97 Umm. Exactly my point I guess.

[@PrincessZoey]

Anitrex006 you say it likes its unplayable dude lol

[@iAmAWolf]

Holy crap I live 10 minutes from you. And I used to deliver pizzas in Kennedale back when I was a teenager. Yet I found you on a worldwide infrastructure of computers. Small world, man.

[@kidlatazul]

We bought a 2014 i3 Rex with similar specs to yours in May and about a month later drove it from Pittsburgh to Stonewall Resort in West Virginia, 132 miles one way. We stopped in Morgantown to get a free charge for an hour or so, to make more of the trip on battery, and had lunch downtown. One of the unexpected pleasures of owning an electric car at this early stage of adoption is that the search for charging stations sometimes takes you to places you wouldn't otherwise visit. Central Morgantown, it turns out, has a nice selection of places to eat and is pleasant to stroll around in. And the charging station was not only free but solar powered! We would have driven right by in our gas-only car and missed a nice experience.

[@not_riley]

i've been ignoring these car videos, but since i've already watched everything else on your channel, i decided to give them a shot. So it's a fact: you're able to make anything interesting with your voice. Time to watch your drag strip videos.

[@peytonlutz1]

What about the i5 or i7 equipped cars??? These cars can run Crysis 3 60FPS Skybox Test..

[@syxepop]

Moustache Pikachu, I happen to drive an i3 (Asus)...

[@xander1052]

@@Empika Xenon* but have you seen those Ryzen powered cars?

[@ashleybailey1785]

@@xander1052 Can't beat the price/performance of those chips. Mega miles for spare change. I happen to have the new R7 3700X and it drives beautifully!

[@raven4k998]

@@ashleybailey1785 just overclock the shizzel out of them then in winter you'll get more heat from the heat pump as it scavenges heat from the cpu hehe

[@mylofryett9160]

The i7 is a real car though

[@doggunn]

Been driving an i3 as my daily car recently. It's a surprising amount of fun - people are shocked at how quick it pulls away.

[@vpj1985]

Greetings Dave from the island nation of Iceland 🇮🇸 The video is excellent and very informative. Also very good production values and great polished final product which has obviously required a great deal of research and editing, the same is true with all your videos.👍

[@thrustsst]

This is so far one of the most useful tutorials of what BMW I3 is and what it can. You're right in that it is a waste of time to talk about the details you can read in a BMW brochure. You have many interesting recital entries under way on your trip. Super fine! There are three factors which I think are critical to electric car deployment. It is the range of the car, the location and density of charging places and the charging speed on those places. Electric cars' main disadvantage is in my opinion not so much the limited range but very much the expansion of charging places, which are often located quite randomly and fairly aimlessly. The charging speed is another major factor. Charging places and charging speed has Tesla done well in a big scale which all other electric car owners can only watch enviously. In Denmark, a Scandinavian and a German supplier of electricity for electric cars have come together on the establishment of a Northern European network of super powerful (150 kW +) DC charging stations at a distance of 75-110 miles between the charging stations. It is not ready yet, but hopeful it will be. With 150 kW you will be able to charge a BMW I3 of 1/3 of the time it takes with CCS Combo 2 DC charger. Combo 2 is basically prepared for 150 kW. In the DC area, it is my impression that Europe is well with relative to the US. Home charging is AC and charge on the move is DC; so be it. In Denmark CCS Combo 2 and CHAdeMO chargers are placed a maximum of 30 miles apart and roughly the same in Germany. In the Netherlands closer. I hope you will continue with new high standard videos for BMW I3 - I am looking forward to that.

[@Egeexyz]

Great video. Loved the LGR reference and the Goodwill stop!

[@Crana]

LGR is a cool dude

[@HeelerHouse]

Egee

[@ervinavideoblogs]

LGR is a very likable guy!

[@HeelerHouse]

Ervīns Elliņš I agree I said a persons username

[@procurlyplayz2843]

Egee ii

[@dave20thmay]

Very good video for someone in the US. But you should not have crashed the car at 13:53, just to demonstrate not carrying fuel in the frunk

[@Sydnxt]

dave20thmay Can't tell if you're being serious.

[@subadanus6310]

this is the best comment i've seen all year

[@TL-ds8ux]

He is very thorough in his reviews.

[@LegoWormNoah101]

I think that's a different I3.

[@jackh000]

lmao

[@tomhanhart5921]

I just bought the same model and came now across this really nice review. I was very skeptical first, but when you look closer, you see this concept is just perfect! Love the vintage gear also!

[@alankuentz4617]

My parents have one of these, and love it. They upgraded from a Nissan Leaf. The range extender makes all the difference for them since they live in the country. Great video!

[@CinecomCrew]

Thank you for the lovely test drive video! If I may suggest one thing: could you include KM's and Liters as well in the future? As a European I constantly had to pause the video and convert the miles/gallons :-)

[@The8BitGuy]

I had seriously thought about that during the production. But my audience is primarily in the USA. So I decided not to.

[@CatsMeowPaw]

Great review (I like all your video) and I love the car, but ditto here about KM and L. The only Imperial countries left in the world are Liberia, Myanmar, and the USA. There are some miles and gallons die hards in the UK too, but everyone else has moved on.

[@ScotsmanRS]

Die hards? As in, all the roadsigns, speed limits, cars and drivers? Don't get me wrong, I'd love to be fully metric (and with any luck, an independent Scotland in the future will go that way) but that is no reason to misrepresent the current state of affairs. As it is, we're in a weird imperial-metric hybrid, where long distances are measured in miles and never kilometres; short distances are measured in either yards or metres ("Parking in 500yds", "30mph speed limit in 300m, 200m, 100m"); shorter distances still are measured in either feet and inches or metres and centimetres (a speaker may even casually mix the units depending on which comes to mind first); tiny distances are measured in mm (personally, I've never heard fractions of an inch smaller than ½ inch used) so tyre treads are measured in mm; speed is always mph and never km/h (heaven forfend anyone use m/s); fuel is sold by the litre but efficiency is measured in mpg; braking distances can be calculated in either feet or metres for our driving theory test; weights are given in kg (but many people still insist on working in stones and pounds when they think of the weight of people); pressure goes between kPa, bar, and psi depending on your car manufacturer and the gauge you use; frequency of rotation is measured in rpm (although I believe that is the case worldwide for automobiles, the SI unit would be s^−1 or Hz); we tend to talk of visibility in metres (though it wouldn't surprise me to hear it in feet or yards); height and width restrictions can be listed in metres only, feet and inches only, or both on the same sign. Thankfully, all science education has been fully metric since before I was born, so with any luck we can phase out imperial measurements in my lifetime!

[@JonathanOwenPhotographer]

Yep UK here too and we're all Miles and Gallons too, that said... Brexit :/

[@carlodanese9120]

scotsmanRS well in other countries like Italy everything is metric

[@Lyrabon]

Bought i3 REx, Didn't fit on motherboard.

[@raven4k998]

@9600GTMAN well theres his problem you don't smash it noobs smash then cry when they figure out they broke the cpu and motherboard your suppose to just lay it down on the socket and make sure it's aligned properly

[@risingembersgaming7740]

I’ve been here since 22k and I have to say the production quality hasn’t changed, always amazing!

[@therealchayd]

Took delivery of my i3 REx today, great car, and this video really put my mind at rest when I got down to 10 miles EV range, and happy knowing the range extender was there to at least get me to a nearby DCFC station, so thanks very much!

[@stupid8911]

No BS, this video had everything. Thank you for all the breakdowns and explanations.

[@G00DwillHUNT3R]

I have no interest in most of your videos, but they are so well produced that I really enjoy watching them. Keep up the great content!

[@raven4k998]

you are a liar sir good day to you

[@ChandanAidur]

One of the best reviews of any car that I have ever seen. Very straightforward and exactly the info needed.

[@compu85]

Great video, glad the i3 is working well for you! We're loving our 500e... and waiting on our slot to open up to order a Model 3.

[@SummerFunMan]

Whow, all this charging talk gives new meaning to the term "MPH" (as you said, "miles per hour")! :D

[@danwat1234]

8:15 increased gas range on the guessometer because of a change of temperature perhaps.

[@raven4k998]

yeah that's it most likely

[@ZachariaZuehlke]

Either that or maybe the incline on the pavement where the i3 was parked made the tank sensor read slightly incorrectly? that was my first thought

[@hongshi8251]

Thank you very much for this video. I was impressed with the high speed driving and how you explained the range extender. Thank you again

[@NoirEtBlancVie]

Im totally looking into getting an i3, very happy you made a review!!

[@matsv201]

I really think this review was very fair. I seen a lot of reviews that is just doped up positive.. i have not seen any that is doped up negative, but i guess that exist to.

[@TheJoseLupercio]

Please make your one year review! That would be helpful and informative to watch! 🙏🏻✨☺️

[@NO_OPEC_NO_PROBLEM]

This is THE BEST i3 REX range video. The i3 is possibly the most underrated misunderstood EV.

[@lalainepfleider3928]

Thanks for a really good video of the range for the REx. I also like your Goodwill stopover!

[@mrider4]

I bought a 2018 i3s Rex about a year ago, and couldn't be happier with it, especially as gas creeps up toward the five dollar a gallon mark. I've noticed that the charging infrastructure, at least around here (Spokane, WA), has improved quite a bit in this last year, to the point where I'm considering a drive to Denver in the near future. I think I'll put a gas can in the frunk, just in case ; )

[@paulanderson929]

Great video!! Love these electric cars! Hope to get one someday.

[@patternmakerbob]

Simply the best explanation. I’m in the market and had a lot more questions than before your video. Thanks

[@TylerBenney]

I have watched this about 10 times now and I keep watching it again and again . So it's pretty good 😂

[@esotericsean]

Great to see more awareness about electric vehicles. Great video! Is Magnolia Farms from the TV show Fixer Upper? I love that show.

[@The8BitGuy]

yes, I believe that is how Leslie had become aware of the place. She watches that show.

[@DiscoFang]

esotericsean I love the show but that place looked awful. Grand scale knick-knack shop. What are people buying and why would you go?

[@TechDeals]

Thanks for the video, it was interesting... While an EV isn't for me right now, if you like yours, then that is awesome, choices are good! :) I just wish you put out more videos, I find them quite interesting... :)

[@greysoneduardo471]

I guess im asking randomly but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my account password. I would love any tricks you can give me!

[@derrickamir2778]

@Greyson Eduardo Instablaster :)

[@greysoneduardo471]

@Derrick Amir I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and im in the hacking process now. Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@greysoneduardo471]

@Derrick Amir It worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass :D

[@derrickamir2778]

@Greyson Eduardo no problem =)

[@fatdudewh33lchair]

I really enjoyed your electric car series of videos, I wish there were more. I’ve watched them all several times over the past couple of months. Hope this encourages you to consider making more, although I know you’re pretty busy with vintage electronics and keyboards already, and car reviews aren’t really your thing but I thought you did better reviews than most car channels that do it full time.

[@jaredboone]

Watching in 2019. Great information, 8-bit dude!

[@jisa39]

It would be great to have this exact trip in a new video, to see how things have changed since.

[@bernddasbrot231]

in my opinion the bmw i3 is a masterpiece of engineering. i would like to have one of those cars too, but i cant afford them. greetings from germany

[@leventguner8882]

bernddasbrot231 I am lucky to have one, and it is amazing, it feels great not to pay for gas. Electric charging is much cheaper compared to gas.

[@fardnia9434]

bernddasbrot231 you really want one of those overpriced mail trucks? chevy bolt is cheaper and has better range Edit: model 3 too

[@liam5257]

Yeah nah beamers are built to last like 3-4 years and then literally everything in them just break down.

[@bangerbangerbro]

What is so great about it? As far as I know it's one of the worst cars ever. It gets crap range. It's expensive. It's mega-heavy, and being a modern BMW, it looks absolutely terrible.

[@bangerbangerbro]

@@liam5257 Yeah. Current euro car companies are like US ones were in the 60s and 70s.

[@texmex9721]

Thanks for this great video. I purchased a 2017 REx new last week and this really helped me make a decision.

[@andriettalee899]

Tex Mex what’s your review of the i3?

[@kevinpower9534]

Thanks for explaining this. No where have I found anyone who has actually explained how this extender works.

[@montgoss]

8:18 Perhaps the ambient temperature was the difference? I'm guessing it was colder at night than it was by the time you unplugged.

[@jwenting]

yes, ambient temperature made the battery cool down which increases its efficiency.

[@jarredleverton4998]

Fellow Texan here. It'll be a cold day in Texas before the state government supports EVs with stuff like public charging stations. :p Our state in particular is VERY nasty towards EV efforts, and goes out of their way to block progress (The most notorious example being the passing of a bill requiring car manufacturers to sell only to dealers, not end consumers, a law passed solely to stop Tesla from selling in the state after outrage from the dealerships that Tesla refused to play their game.) So yeah, you made the right call getting a higher range model, I don't look for infrastructure growth to be encouraged at a state level anytime soon sadly.

[@rexpositor6741]

Oh Texas...the air will keep destroying your brain cells.

[@markjohnson8260]

We don't need the government to do it. Hotels, Walmarts, private businesses are building it up.

[@Sist3r]

We live in euless and glad to see someone is reviewing this. We are thinking about getting the pre owned one because of the good price. Still debating between the exterior and interior color. Thanks for the review!!!

[@phoenixfire47]

This video was quite entertaining and I'm glad you posted it, looked like a fun trip. Also good to see another happy i3 owner. I'm currently leasing mine because I got it back in June under the ridiculously cheap Employee Lease programs and I'm loving every minute of it. It's currently my daily driver, taking that position from my Mustang and saves me a ton of money at that. I've been thinking of coding my i3 REX as well and your video definitely helped to decide that I'm going to. Although you mention that your charging infrastructure isn't great, you should see what mine is on Long Island, NY. We have a L2 charger at my job(BMW dealership), a few at other dealerships in the area, my local Tanger Outlets has a L2, but there are only TWO DC Fast chargers within 100 miles of me, sadly and only one of them is free. However, I'm sure in the years to come, with the Model 3 and Bolt in our near future, our charging infrastructure will double or triple in size and bring even more EV's on the road!

[@lpphoenix131]

I envy Lazy Game Reviews and his awesome finds at Goodwill! In New Hampshire Goodwills it's all junk electronics and other knick-knacks.

[@davetravels9273]

Thanks for the detailed review on the REX. I currently live in Germany and was wondering why no one seems to use the battery hold function for longer trips when I read reviews in the U.S... now I know... ridiculous. Do you know if the 94 Ah has the same limitation too? Also, how noisy is it in the cabin with the REX working? My wife and I are keen on buying a used i3 REX in Germany. We usually drive less than 50 km, but a few times a year we take longer trips that can easily be 400-600km. I would think that a REX would have no problem with this, as long as we keep it between 130-140 kmh (80-85mph) on the Autobahn and use DC fast charing at some point in between.

[@The8BitGuy]

We could not hear the Rex when traveling on the highway at fast speed. In fact, we weren't even sure it was on. However, at lower speeds you can hear and feel it running.

[@fbottone]

I've been looking for information like this all over the web! Thanks for this. Some reviews make it out to be quite loud, but I'm only looking to extend highway driving range. Around what speed would you guess it starts to drown out? I drive....spirited....which it seems you are used to :) but I wouldn't mind travelling at 55-65mph for efficiency if the Rex really is inaudible at that speeds. Great video again thanks for all the information.

[@nikonmark37814]

Great video, having just purchased a hybrid 2019 Honda Inspire I know the EV is next on my list and this video gave me an idea what it's like to travel in an EV and also learned a lot about charging stations.

[@JanJanuszNosacz]

I don't know why, but I love watching this vid again and again afert some days. I don't know, to me it seems like an adventure movie with trip to foreign city, sightseeing, some tech reports from the trip. Great vid :)

[@skyearthocean5815]

Asking the TX legislature for EV chargers is like asking the Taliban for nude beaches.

[@The8BitGuy]

You're probably right..

[@user-po6hn9id1t]

The 8-Bit Guy one crazy guy in my country, swapped the electric drive, and the extender, with the GS1200R engine, and built his own transmission.

[@lsswappedcessna]

YEE HAW and all that. I can't blame them, I like good old dinosaur power myself.

[@xstraightedgefishingx]

Texas is where the oil industry thrives, so I guess that makes sense.

[@TheHoosiers2008]

Where do you think the electric power come from?

[@DvdXploitr]

Now that this video is about 2 1/2 years old, how has the charging infrastructure changed in your area? Are you seeing more charging stations? Would you be willing to go further on EV and less on the Range Extender?

[@marcel0lowrie]

i too want to hear an update

[@dvanomaly420]

There is a fast charger in Waco, TX now.

[@zibbybone]

We do have more public charging stations in DFW, but it still needs improvement - especially the suburbs. Arlington is DFW's "entertainment" city with Six Flags over Texas, Hurricane Harbor (water park), AT&T Stadium (Dallas Cowboys, concerts and college football games), and whatever the new Ballpark for the Texas Rangers is going to be called, but there are not many charging stations.

[@user-rd5ub1xq2g]

Как понять Разширитель диапазона на электричке?

[@metricstormtrooper]

I really loved your video, I Really Love the way the destination charger has cord drapes across a footpath (sidewalk) ready to trip up passers by.

[@grantwes]

Great video, thanks for pointing out difference’s in the different models

[@angelawest2187]

when you tell her you drive a bmw and then pick her up in this lmao

[@lsswappedcessna]

"Hey babe I drive a lambo." pulls up in a 1961 Lamborghini DL25 like *diesel noises*

[@lsswappedcessna]

Google it, I dare you.

[@newagederpderp]

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

[@bangerbangerbro]

@@lsswappedcessna Lamborghini rotorvator. That is a thing

[@MICHGO1]

RIGHT? NO REASON TO MAKE IT SO UGLY.

[@jeffreymorris11]

Yes indeed, a great video focussing on the key practical issues one needs to know. Far better than TOP GEAR and meme shows. BMW, range extender needs a silencer. Also putting the petrol tank in the front of the car is a design fumble!

[@TechDeals]

Yes, but for me (I also live in DFW), all this tells me is that EVs aren't ready for prime time... All of that headache when my truck has none of these issues and will drive to Waco and back twice on one tank of gas, while hauling a lot more stuff. Call me when we have a 500 mile range EV truck for a similar price to the gas version. :)

[@jeffreymorris11]

Tech Deals Quite right. So much anxiety and hustle for 100+ miles, so yes indeed 500 miles, then I am interested in the 3i, otherwise not nothing.

[@marcel0lowrie]

@@TechDeals it's surprisingly quick to fill up 2.4 gallons. for a station on the side of the highway, its about 2 minutes from when you pull off to get back on the road. the core ideas of an EV seem to conflict with your "hauling a lot of stuff" business, dont want to pry why you wish to be able to make trips between cities carrying lots of cargo and not have time to at the very least pull over and stretch to prevent posture or back issues(you only get one back).

[@jimedward8908]

I liked this video a lot, thank you for making it, very nice thing to do!

[@markedwardsphotography]

Totally enjoyed watching, thanks for posting

[@johnhuynh6717]

12th btw your vids are soo goood I have been watching for 4-5 years

[@kenm2709]

Some of the fuel runs back into the tank from the engine after sitting all night, giving you the higher reading.

[@c208captain]

WOW! This is my new favorite channel. Well done sir! I'm hitting Sub right now.

[@dave11686]

Very well done review! I’m very strongly considering one of these for my next car

[@N2tech]

For me that would be nerve racking having to constantly be aware of my mileage. Driving is supposed to be relaxing and liberating. At that price I would expect at least 250 miles per charge and that's only a little over half of my Toyota Yaris and you can pick one up for under $14,000. Hey love the channel, Take care.

[@The8BitGuy]

This trip was an extremely unusual situation. Normally speaking, our electric cars are driven in town and the battery range is more than sufficient.

[@fredricknilsson7]

I was reading that replacement batteri cost 10K USD :-o We can agree that we do not get an EV for its lower cost. Seems lite warranty from many factories are like 8 year. So including the battery replacement for an EV will add like 1 USD per 10 km.

[@erebostd]

The coding software is in german :D

[@computiNATEor]

Yep! The newer software seen here is even far better than the old stuff for the early 2000s BMWs (like mine) which are practically inscrutable for non-German speakers.

[@erebostd]

computiNATEor German is easier to learn than you might think ;-)

[@computiNATEor]

Erebos It's not rocket science, but learning a new language and learning it technically? Yikes.

[@erebostd]

computiNATEor Many of us (me included) hat to learn english, and its quite a hassle. Dutch an German is not so hard to learn, its not like japanese. ;-)

[@Jodelorakel]

Erebos Well your spelling might have room for improvement. English is way easier to learn for a German than it is for a native English speaker to learn any language. I can't see an advantage big enough for the time invested. The only place I'd like to go for a longer time where German is spoken is Switzerland. And even there you're probably better off speaking English, since Switzergerman is hard to understand for a native German speaker, and parts are French or Italian.

[@eroo1973]

Saw the notification for this video when it now came out because I didn't think it would be entertaining. Boy was I wrong. I really enjoyed it.

[@notpurple]

Another awesome vid. it helps to know about the hold function. cool!

[@nutz4gunz457]

The fact that they purposefully cripple the US cars is yet proof that most auto makers have little interest in building electric cars. The only reason this car exists is to boost the CAFE(corporate average fuel economy) of the company so it meets government requirements. The truth is they really don't want you to buy it and it shows. Notice the complete lack of marketing, when was the last time you saw a commercial for an i3, or i8. I live in Chicago and I've seen maybe two i3s and zero i8s on the road.

[@Astravall]

The reason why it is crippled is to be inside EV-Regulations so they can still call it an EV in the US and not Hybrid. So to call it an EV the Range Extender must not provide more range as the Battery itself. Same reason why the hold mode is not active in the US Version. the REX must only be used for range EXTENSION. Not to drive on fuel all the time.

[@TL-ds8ux]

Perfect explanation.

[@ELGee1]

no its not because of the automaker in this case! its because of regulations in your own country that needed this! othewise it woulde not qualify for a EV and no tax benefids! it would kill it! because the price is alteady high

[@matsv201]

Actually its the other way around. Its cripple to make it a "electric" car. To be registered as a electric car it have to have longer electric range than fuel range. The ironic part is that this rule is the same in Europe and USA. The difference is that the European way of testing is easier on the electric side than the US one. So in Europe it have a on paper longer electric range, and there for may have more fuel.

[@Sauceyjames]

Hmm interesting, never knew about that, Astravall. I felt that it wasn't BMW's choice to limit the car, I bet they'll change the rules when GM decide that they want to make a longer range mass market vehicle, probably when they can put it in a Suburban.

[@darklinggolem]

What about UK/China/Japan/Philippines Voltage? (Like 240V AC). Is it still 5 Miles per Hour? Or 25 Miles Per Hour Charge?

[@paccimaster4584]

ac not dc

[@Travis0palzae]

It is increased. Level 1 depends on the sustained power your mains circuit can output. US 120v is at 12amps. UK 240v is at 10amps. So around 7-8 mph.

[@MrOpenGL]

There's also a 16A 230V Level 1 charge for European countries with 16A sockets (France/Germany/Italy etc) that should give about 18 miles per hour of charge. And if your home has 3 phase 380/400/415V service (e.g. if it has a lift or is very large) you can get a Level 2 charge in your garage usually at 16 or 32A.

[@marcel0lowrie]

USA uses many voltages. 120v is residential interior voltage, utility and appliance voltage often 240v. Ranges, waterheaters, aircon, dryers all run on 240v in average US home. 32a 240v is 7.7kW and adds that 25mi/h.

[@jameswilkins8530]

Outstanding! Sundown early in the trip was a great metaphor.

[@saldi3543]

This was the best review so far , thanks a lot!

[@a.mostert800]

I'd love one of these but I don't know how viable an option it is for South Africa.

[@mrnemo204]

I wonder how viable it is for Anguilla

[@uceid]

As long as you have electricity, this is an option.

[@TL-ds8ux]

The first thing is to determine your driving requirements. I have one and I rarely use the public chargine facilities. Mine is also a range extender version and after a few code changes it has served me well. Most of my driving is commuting 40miles a day to/from work. In the garage I park at there is a standard 15amp/110v outlet that, over the 9hr charge, recovers the 40mile commute. I run a 30amp @ 240v charger at home for those times I need to top off.

[@a.mostert800]

I live in Cape Town city and use public transport exclusively except when I have to travel to other parts of the country.

[@wizzardblr]

Dylan Rabie

[@computergeek9319]

The only thing I see in the comments is hate for electric cars, and people hating the 8-bit guys commentary. :(

[@jetjazz05]

I don't hate the 8-bit guy, but uhh.. I do hate EVERYTHING about the i3. Until electric cars 1) get some kind of infrastructure and 2) can go more than 100 miles without a charge there's just no point. Everyone wants to SAY that it's great, but if everyone had an EV you'd need parking lots filled with chargers at every location because you'd need to be juicing your battery just to keep it going. Not really economical. Until a battery can go 300+ miles on a half hour charge I just don't see people switching.

[@yanDeriction]

All parking lots SHOULD be filled with chargers. What's more economical: a centralized distribution system that requires constant refueling and maintenance? An elaborate system of exploding dinosaurs that spews toxic waste and noise? Or just running some glorified extension cords through the parking lot? Hint: extension cords are more economical. EVs with 100 mile ranges absolutely will work for most people if there is sufficient infrastructure - its cheaper to build charging stations than to tack on batteries. An absolutely gargantuan percentage of the population - especially in this economy - would love to take road trips with 30 minute charging in between 80 mile legs if it meant having a maintenance-free car that costs pennies to run and minimal price to buy. The 300 miles demand is completely made up by the oil companies and bought wholesale by idiots who don't know better - the same people who drive crappy economy cars with 8 gallon tanks that get 30mpg that have to be fueled up every 150 miles. And guess what - the Tesla Model S P100D - the current top of the line model - does have 315 miles of range and uses the supercharger infrastructure. The chevy bolt - 200 miles of range, dc fast charger, $38k base price and arrives at dealers before the end of the year. Your info is outdated, Jesse.

[@computergeek9319]

Yeah, I wish :C

[@jetjazz05]

+yan-Deriction Nice trolling. Proof is in the pudding m8, if people wanted electric or it was economical for them they'd be buying. I've worked at many car dealerships, BMW sold about 7 i3s a year at one dealership (in a city metro), and a Nissan dealer sold about as many Leafs. Most people returned the BMWs by the way, they hated that they could only drive 70 miles with the AC on. " if there is sufficient infrastructure", well there isn't. Why don't YOU pay for the infrastructure then you can start pointing fingers at who's wrong, me or you. Your pipe dream isn't just about the technology or how you can only travel 100 miles on a charge, it's the infrastructure or *lack* of one. It's going to take decades for there to be enough infrastructure for people to want to switch. Electric has been around for 3 decades now, so why is it less than 1% of Americans are using them? No infrastructure and shit mileage. Nice try with your "outdated information" ploy, though.

[@yanDeriction]

"Why don't YOU pay for the infrastructure" Sure, I'll pony up $20 for an extension cord. Which parking spot do you need it? The idea that an elaborate set of pumps and a dedicated filling station is somehow cheaper or more efficient to set up and operate than running an extension from the nearest power-line or plug is ridiculous. "Proof is in the pudding m8, if people wanted electric or it was economical for them they'd be buying." You're saying we should trust the judgement of the same people who rushed out to buy SUVs the second gas hit $2. However, if we look at the data - the costs to actual owners, electric cars simply win out due to minimal running costs and minimal maintenance required. "it's the infrastructure or lack of one. It's going to take decades for there to be enough infrastructure for people to want to switch." I bet the exact same question was said to the person who came up with engine block heaters. "Engine block heaters? Neat idea but... setting up the infrastructure is just too difficult! It's gonna take decades before the good people living in the north are able to preheat their engines with electrical power, its just not practical!" "Electric has been around for 3 decades now" Sure, I remember the great mass produced electric car of 1993, which was a complete failure due to lack of infrastructure and shit mileage. "Nice try with your "outdated information" ploy, though." That was in direct response to you implying that 1) electric cars cannot go more than 100 miles on a charge, and 2) electric cars cannot go more than 300 miles on a half hour charge. Both false.

[@mistermikeyjay]

Great thorough video. Thx for sharing!

[@Lilmiket1000]

not to mention you can always put a gas tank in the trunk or frunk and rout a tiny fuel line to the range extender. that way you can make the tank size as big as you wanted.

[@Omnilatent]

I think the difference of the fuel mileage from the night and morning is due to the fuel and its fumes expanding and retracting. In the night, your car was still hot, which means more fumes and less fuel in the tank. Over night, those fumes became fuel again as it cooled down and thus gave more range indication now.

[@cros13]

Hi, i3 REx driver here. The difference is likely due to a combination of effects. The primary cause is that the i3's range meter pulls from a number of information sources including the entered route on the gps (elevation data, speed limits, weather en-route, historical consumption of other vehicles that took the route, range extender efficiency on last trip), local ambient temperature, battery temperature (yup, this impacts the range extender displayed range), predicted battery heating and cooling requirements for the remainder of the range. Also with the fuel tank is pressurized, insulated by nearby components and on teh wrong end of the car from anything that gets hot with no heat conducting path so I'm not sure the effect you mention applies.

[@antoniusbanderas1565]

I know this is a bit off topic, but what do you think about the new redesigned prius?

[@The8BitGuy]

It's too slow, and the rear end looks terrible. The Prius Prime is better, but still too slow.

[@user-po6hn9id1t]

The 8-Bit Guy swap it with a 2jz

[@CDRiley]

I love your Futurama reference on your shirt. I miss my Texas. Great Video,sir!

[@Alex-tf8fr]

Great review. This is super helpful information!

[@StefanBlurr]

European (atleast in my country) outlets got 220v ( 380v is optional, for those who use heavy electric motors like a lathe.) .

[@Metalman200xdamnit]

That is because most of Europe uses 50Hz,so they had to push up the voltage to compensate. Most of the US uses 110-120V at 60Hz.

[@MrOpenGL]

Total bullshit. You don't "compensate" the frequency with voltage. The US uses an outdated system because electricity started off there with 100V DC, and when they changed to AC they used 110V AC so that the 100V DC lightbulbs could work without being changed. Europe started with 220V or 240V already at 50Hz (the difference between 50Hz and 60Hz is negligible, it only matters for clocks that use the 50Hz or 60Hz as the time base, so a 50Hz clock will run too fast on 60Hz) and only recently changed to 230V so that it is harmonised throughout the continent. 220V has many advantages, one of them is that with an US 16A socket you can get a maximum of 120*16=1920 W, in Europe using the same socket and wires you can get 230*16=3680W Which means that it is much more efficient and cheaper (less copper used) than the outdated US system And an added bonus is that a Level 1 charger for an EV in Europe will charge the car 2 times faster than the Level 1 charger in the US, which means it is actually useful whereas in the US since it takes 14 h for a full charge it's useless.

[@Metalman200xdamnit]

MrOpenGL The reason it was upped to 220-240V in most of Europe was during wartime there. They had to increase the voltage to help the electric flow better through power lines.

[@MrOpenGL]

Why is there so much disinformation and crap about this subject?!?! In the early days both Europe and the USA used DC at a voltage ranging from 80 to 110V. When Nikola Tesla and Galileo Ferranti discovered AC transmission, induction motors and transformers, they all agree that since voltage is now easy to be changed via transformers, it should be kept as high as possible to minimize losses (thanks also to the work by Georg Ohm on electrical resistance). Therefore in Europe, under the guide of Siemens and AEG, the standard settled for 220V (240V in the UK because of GEC) single phase and 380V triple phase as early as 1900. The frequency chosen was 50Hz out of a number of strange ones (25 Hz, 16 2/3 Hz, 45Hz) because it was the lowest frequency that didn't produce visible flicker in lightbulbs, it tied well with the SI which is based on decade numbering, and the rotational speed of 2-pole alternators was 3000RPM which was easily achievable for the early water and steam turbines. The USA on the other hand had a much more developed DC network than Europe, therefore a lot of customers already had extensive installations of 100V lamps and 100V heating elements (e.g ovens etc.) While Tesla wanted to use 220V like Europe, because it would enable to cut wire costs in half, people didn't want to change all the bulbs and appliances to meet the new voltage, and since bulbs and heating elements can work on AC as long as the voltage is similar, it was decided to make a "split-phase" system where one leg is at 120V, the other at 120V and both legs are at 240V. It is the system that still survives today. The High voltage distribution was built to the three phase standard like in Europe because it only required 3 wires vs. 4 wires for the Tesla system, and motors ran much smoother with 3 phases than with 2. Charles Scott designed the Scott-T transformer to connect the 2-phase and 3-phase systems together. The frequency was chosen to be 60Hz because it tied better with the US customary system that uses dozens and because you could build a clock very simply with a 60:1 gear. Today Europe has harmonised its voltage to 230V to remove the discrepancy between the UK (240V) and mainland (220V) but many old transformers survive and those are still 220 or 240V unless they have a tap changer. The USA on the other hand has kept its outdated and inefficient 120V distribution system, however industrially three phase (208 or 480V) is the king like in Europe.

[@nc3826]

@@MrOpenGL Don't argue with a moron. It will just make you look as foolish as him, when its all done.

[@cipmars]

This is the future for the automotive industry and... I dread it.

[@jetjazz05]

I'm still pissed about sealed transmissions. I'm WAY too poor to buy anything that's not 10 years old... so a 10 year old car with 100k on the odometer and a transmission that's not serviceable? Talk about planned obsolescence. Some of the transmissions though do have a drain and a fill plug, but there's still no dipstick to check the fluid and see the condition of the transmission. Some transmissions don't have a drain or fill plug either, or perhaps just a fill and it needs to be disassembled to drain. I'm not a big fan.

[@cipmars]

Jesse Crandle I think they have seriously lost the plot a few years ago. I don't even want to start about the VW diesel debockle, the robotised semiautomatic trannies that fail every odd day, particle filters that fail after two years, useless electronics that only prevent you from using the car because of legal mumbo jumbo, everclunking suspensions and lack of soundproofing and last but not least, why in the world do they have to look like squeaky toys or baby shoes? As far as electrics go or better yet as close as they go, the authonomy is still too low and the pricing is stupid.

[@jetjazz05]

cipmars I heard GM recalled a ton of vehicles because the seatbelts wouldn't tension in an accident because of a software setting... my question is this: how is it my 12 year old Saab has a mechanical tensioner where if I pull on it it locks the belt up... and GM has decided that was a bad idea and made it controlled by a computer? How on EARTH is that a good idea? I just don't get it. Some electronics are fine, fuel injection is (in my opinion) better than carbs and distributors, but everyone is trying to take the technology way too far. I find it hard to believe making EVERY part electronic is cheaper than just leaving it mechanical.

[@cipmars]

Jesse Crandle Common rail injection is another good idea. I also had a SAAB, it was a 2001 9-3 diesel. It sounded like a truck but it was a great car overall. Somehow I think it won't be my last SAAB. Currently I drive a Peugeot 307. Why does the dome light have to be controlled by a computer?

[@theend1555]

You'll get left in the dust than

[@DmitriGoncharov]

Quite a great review actually. Thank you for making it.

[@DudeFromUkraine]

Thank you for making this video! We’re trying to decide between 2018 BEV and REX models. Considering CPO vehicles and 2018 because of remaining manufacturers warranty. Planning to do mostly city driving around LA. REX would be a nice to have just incase.

[@stadoblech]

In usa you have only 120 v standart wall outlet? Holy...

[@Araiya]

stadoblech That is correct. Our standard outlets are 110-120 volts. Large appliances have special outlets for 220-240 volts. So at home, an outlet can be wired for the higher voltage, bringing us on par with countries that run 220-240 volts standard, so we can have the faster charging, but the outlet is usually keyed differently to try to prevent us from plugging in the lower voltage appliances by accident.

[@dumdum7786]

in japan they only have 100

[@Mike.Garcia]

doesn't fast charge kill the batteries faster?

[@iPelaaja1]

gwald yes

[@aamaruvi]

it only kills them if they get hotter because of charging( ex: tesla cars are designed not to overheat from fast charging)

[@iPelaaja1]

Yeah, not to overheat, but they do still get warmer. And any heat, not just overheat is bad. Its not gonna have too big of an effect, but it will have some effect.

[@TL-ds8ux]

At least in the US BMW offers an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery so I wouldn't worry about it.

[@brickman409]

people say the same thing about fast charging with phones. I've yet to see hard evidence to prove it. I think that's just a rumor.

[@vishalb84]

Excellent video! Great info. I just got an i3 shipped from california, so you really got lucky getting you i3 in DFW for 25k because they are just non existent. I am in dallas so hopefully our paths may cross soon !

[@kwakukumi4729]

Finally! Thank you from your fellow i3 owner. Great video.

[@Crana]

Wouldn't mind an electric car but it wouldn't suit my driving. I get 600 miles of range from my diesel car (around 60mpg), and make trips over 250 miles regularly so yeah that's not going to work, at least not as my main car. Cool video as usual.

[@computiNATEor]

These are actually pretty cool little cars. I had the opportunity to throw one around an autocross course, and because the battery is low, the car is light, and the motor is at the back, it's a fun little go-kart to zip around in. Nearly silent, too.

[@matsv201]

Just a suggestion. Go look at Volvo or Mitsubishi hybrid lines. If you mostly do 30 mile run or shorter they will do just fine. Mitsubishi have a bit better hybrid system, but its a bit worse of a car. The V60 D5 and XC90 T8 is really good cars, but they are not really cheap and the hybrid system is really mostly for short jounries.

[@computiNATEor]

matsv201 Oh, god, Mitsu has really fallen apart in the last 10 years. I would never buy a battery electric vehicle, personally, I drive too far too often.

[@matsv201]

computiNATEor Yea Mitsubishi is a bit crapy, but the V60 is fairly good. All the cars (outlander, V60 and XC90) are "real" cars.. That is if the electric system breaks down 100%.. they still run. Not as efficent, but they do run. As long as there is gas (or in the case of the V60, diesel), in the tank, they will run.

[@computiNATEor]

matsv201 Not entirely true. If the electric system in a Prius fails, the gasoline engine can't really compensate by itself, and vice-versa. The engine computers aren't flexible enough, yet.

[@evy2031]

Worlds most modest Texan

[@johnnyrobertson3381]

Fantastic commentary from this gentleman many thanks it's much clearer now whether I should by a BMW i3

[@TheSiloTeam]

A nice pleasant and honest review. Very refreshing. Shared!

[@jirikaspar238]

Nice video, but it is quite scary to see the way your wife is holding the steering wheel.

[@Caveman1992sa]

come with me. I drive with a finger

[@Person-fr5md]

I'll drive with legs, occasionally.

[@angeloswithans]

Jiří Kašpar lol

[@VitalMusic217]

I drive with my knees for dozens of kilometers when I´m bored.

[@1FireyPhoenix]

She’s the least of your worries - I take turns and corners at 50 mph when I’m bored.

[@pizzaboxer]

Anybody wondering "Does it have an Intel Core i3? :3"

[@danijelo1984]

Perfect review of the vehicle, we honestly couldn't ask for more ! Thank you for taking time and all your knowledge to share all of this with us who are looking to purchase this model..Ive been driving bow 535i GT version for more than 5 years now..love the car love the size for the family but now with gas prices and in general looking down the road this bow i3 rex looks sooo fun! If you ever get a chance to read my comment I would love to know how are you satisfied several years later with the same model if you kept it that long. Best regards form LA!

[@supersingular]

Great video! You should do documentaries. Very relaxing as well as informative.

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

Tesla is being the Apple of electric cars? everything might be standardized but we're too special for that?

[@matsv201]

Yea.. it really is. I would even say that Tesla replaced Apple in this role. Its also that they sell the same thing as everybody else, only more expensive. Its true that the Tesla cars got higher range, but the reason for this very few people know. The reason is quite simple, they use batteries with higher energy density but lower endurance. I would think this might be a expensive suprice for some owners.

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

don't talk about the price of the cars to compare them to Apple some non-electric cars are only more expensive than other cars because the company making them decided on that and is selling them expensive the only way to actually compare them being more expensive (like Apple) is if the charging cord is much more expensive but functionally the same as the standardized version and stuff related to that. the ignoring the standardization and making incompatible (without an adapter) versions of the standardized (regardless of what was first) is just being annoying to everyone

[@matsv201]

whoeveriam0iam14222 Yea... Tesla also gone for the "make it or break it" aptrotch. Its looks like they are really successful, but in matter of facts, they are quite far from. They keep setting up those fake charging stations all over the place. And with fake i don´t mean they don´t charge. The do charge. But they set up say 6 or 8 charging stations, but they only have say 2 or in some cases 4 chargers. Then if more than 2 cars charge, they simply just hop the charging around via software, making the illusion of all cars charging, but they cut the charging speed in half or so. Nobody notice because its that rare that more than one tesla are at the same place at the same time... for now. Also, most of the charging stations (at least where i live) was payed buy the community found. All communes want a large number of fast charger. So tesla come in and outbids all the other, put up 8 charging stations, claim that there are 8 chargers than put in only 2 charging units.

[@TheMhayden123]

matsv201 I hope you realize that for every 2 Stalls there is 1 charger. So for a station of 8 stalls there would be 4 chargers. Also Tesla owners are smart enough to pick every other stall to maximize the charging speeds for everyone. That will probably change when The Model 3 comes out because everyone and their dog will have one, so Tesla will need to drastically improve their stall count per station. But Tesla has some of the best charging infrastructure. Especially when they hold the record for the longest range EV, the quickest production car, and the quickest production SUV. So Tesla is no slouch with their cars.

[@matsv201]

Hayden Marsh No.. you are wrong. The actual charger is onboard of the car. In the handle there is a control unit. And close buy there is a transformer as well as a AC/DC converter that actually does the heavy lifting. Its the limit of this unit that limit the capacity of the total charge station

[@verebellus]

i dont get why they would make an electric car, that has a gas motor which totally defeats the purpose of the electric motor

[@marcel0lowrie]

In the video content above accessed by pressing the play button you will find all the information you are seeking. However I will comment on my own personal experience. It's so that you can have an EV, and use pure EV while in city, but when you go to your moms or a day trip out of town you can go twice as far than the electric gets you. No we don't have hardly any chargers let alone fast ones, unless you like stopping by a station every hour and wait 4 hours.

[@verebellus]

But still, the point of an EV is no gas, and adding a gas motor defeats the whole thing

[@markjohnson8260]

@@verebellus It's a safety net, no way is anything defeated. When EV charging is as common as gas stations, we won't need the range extender.

[@liv2ska8]

Great video - very informative and nicely explained 👍😎

[@shamsaxonettist]

Continue making awesome videos man!.