O
wning an electric vehicle is a
lifestyle. A lifestyle, that hasn’t
been widely adopted. Not yet,
at least. And that’s because it requires
planning.
This EV lifestyle asks questions like:
what’s my range like? Are there charge
ports nearby where I can top up? Can
I do everything I need to do without
having to call the local tow company for
a helping hand?
Owning an EV requires specific
equipment to be installed in your home
or to be readily available so your charge
times are lessened and the concept of
“range anxiety” isn’t ever-present in your
mind.
That said, unless you’re planning on
spending upwards of $100K on Tesla’s
luxury sedan, the Model S, range anxiety
is as real as a headache.
But there are ways to calm the storm.
Ways in which your heart doesn’t
palpitate uncontrollably when the range
is depleted.
BMW’s i3 can come with a range
extender; a 650cc, two-cylinder gasoline
engine that will then generate electricity
to drive the wheels. Meaning, you’ll get
about 130-160 kilometres of emissionsfree driving before needing to charge
up. Of course, that’s all dependent
on which drive mode you’re using—
Comfort, Eco Pro, and Eco Pro+.
If you run out of juice because you’re
going on a longer jaunt, you have the
safety net of upwards of 80 kilometres of
range to get you through your last stint.
A recent adventure with the i3 in
BC from Vancouver to Whistler left
me tapping into that range extender.
Though begrudgingly. I really didn’t
want to, but that hilly trek really tapped
into its power. Thank goodness for that
safety net!
Further complicating matters was the
DC quick charge port that I pre-planned
to charge at in Squamish was not
compatible with the equipment on my
test unit—though the i3 can come with
the accessory, it just has to be outfitted.
Time constraints didn’t allow for more
than 20 minutes of Level II charging,
which only gave me a few extra
kilometres. So, with less than 40 kms
of range and over 60 kms of travel to
go, had I not had the range extender, I
could have been in big trouble. Some
back-up planning is always a great
safeguard in order to plan a trip without
issue. Or just make sure to add in more
time for charging.
I’ll preface and say I know that this
type of vehicle is ideal for an urban
setting. So wanting to drive up to
Whistler from Vancouver was a stretch.
Clearly, I did it anyway mainly due to
the range extender, but in the process, I
learned a few things.
Planning is one of the most, if not the
most important tool for living with an EV.
My lifestyle doesn’t necessarily make
it easy. I live in an urban condo where
there are no charge stations installed.
Furthermore, the 110V outlets attached
to the underground parking pillars are
sacrosanct; don’t try and use them or
you’ll get a warning or an infraction
from the strata. The undertone would
likely be something along the lines of
“stealing electricity.”
Therefore, my situation forces me
to leave my home to the many “free”
charging stations Vancouver has to offer.
Driving emissions free and not
paying for gas is a beautiful thing, but
an underlying frustration is having an
active lifestyle, and sometimes needing
to travel long distances to get out of the
downtown chaos I have grown to love.
However by doing that, it forced
me to tap into the generator on my
way north. Listening to its loud drones
was excruciating, and they didn’t go
unnoticed. It almost felt shameful to
use, as that goes against the point of
having an EV. But, I have to say, I’m
so glad it was there, making it worth
the extra cost for those unpredictable
moments in need.
And speaking of cost, making a
fashion or environmental statement
with this unmistakable vehicle will cost
a pretty penny. It’s not for the faint of
wallet.
The 2015 BMW i3 with the range
extender has a starting MSRP of
$49,300. With options—but excluding
the $2,095 destination charge and
taxes—the price as tested is $56,800.
Included in the price is the use of
sustainable materials, particularly in the
ultra modern and funky interior. BMW
states that 25 per cent of the weight of
the plastic used in the interior comes
from recycled material or renewable
resources. Plus, the textiles used on
the seats consist of up to 100 per cent
recycled fibres.
Not to mention the layout is gorgeous,
the cabin lets a lot of light in, and the
seats are very comfy. There’s room for
four inside and the overall design is chic
and attention grabbing.
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