http://www.carsguide.com.au/car-reviews/2015-bmw-i3-review-in-the-garage-part-1-32529 2015 BMW i3 review | in the garage part 1 Richard Blackburn 15 May 2015
My first commute in the BMW i3 didn’t get off to a great start. After a weekend of running about, the little electric hatchback was in need of a recharge and CarsGuide’s carpark had recently installed a dedicated recharging bay for electric vehicles. It was impossible to miss the fact that this was an EV parking bay. It’s painted green, just as disabled spots are painted blue, and is marked EVs only. Yet as I turned into the carpark, what was in that spot but a big, ugly, fossil fuel-propelled Mitsubishi Triton. What to do when confronted by poor parking etiquette? I briefly entertained the idea of leaving an indignant note under the wiper but decided against it on the basis that the i3 stands out like a sore thumb, making me eminently traceable to the tradie who had gazumped my spot. “ Its looks are — to be kind — polarising „ It was a good introduction to a car that has its fair share of ups and downs. On the plus side, the i3 is hot-hatch quick off the mark, spacious for a hatchback and popular with the kids. But there are design flaws and its looks are — to be kind — polarising. The i3 is without doubt a head-turner, although not all the heads that turn are impressed by what they see. The seats look like a tired tweed jacket with leather elbow patches and the dash material looks as if it belongs out of sight — perhaps on the underside of a parcel shelf. The timber highlights, though, look classy and are reminiscent of the panelling on an expensive yacht. The cabin ergonomics are good, the infotainment controls are easy to use, the outward vision is above average and the seats are comfortable. But the rear-hinged back doors are already wearing thin. Yes, they provide good access to the rear seats but there’s a snag: to open the rear doors you must first open the fronts. And if you’re in the front, you have to undo your seat belt to let rear passengers out because it’s connected to the rear doors. I learnt this the hard way, tugged violently backwards as my son flung open the rear door. Then there’s the range. The official claims seem a little optimistic but I’ll leave that until I’ve put more kilometres on the clock. Specifications Price From [AUD]63,900 Seats 5 Warranty 3 years/unlimited Service Interval 24 months/25,000km Engine electric, 125kW/250Nm Transmission Automatic, RWD Turning circle 9.9m diameter Dimensions 3999mm (L), 1775mm (W), 1578mm (H) [© carsguide.com.au] ... http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tradies tradie ... http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gazump#Verb gazumped For EVLN posts use: http://evdl.org/evln/ http://www.nationalreview.com/article/418162/bureaucracies-dinosaurs-run-amok-technological-civilization-kevin-d-williamson BMW i3> one of those nifty little EVs that are displacing lumbering ice ancestors http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-i3-tuned-by-ind-distribution-looks-meaner-than-usual-95591.html BMW i3 Tuned by iND Distribution Looks Meaner than Usual http://evfleetworld.co.uk/news/2015/May/DriveNow-adds-30-BMW-i3s-to-its-London-fleet/0438019880 DriveNow adds 30 BMW i3s EVs to its London.uk fleet http://www.therakyatpost.com/motoring/2015/05/13/bmw-italy-delivers-electric-cars-and-motorcycles-to-italian-state-police/ BMW Italy delivers electric cars&motorcycles to Italian State Police http://www.autoevolution.com/news/recycling-the-bmw-i3-yes-it-is-95-percent-possible-video-95296.html Recycling the BMW i3 Is 95 Percent Possible (v) http://www.bmwblog.com/2015/05/10/bmw-i3-year-one-celebration/ BMW i3 Year One Celebration http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/may/11/state-energy-grants-open-new-horizons-electric-car/ One dual L2 EVSE @Steamboat Springs, CO With more to come http://api.plugshare.com/view/location/64550 + EVLN: CEO Domenicali rode this electric Ducati conversion {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-My-first-i3-commute-the-tradie-who-had-gazumped-the-EV-spot-tp4675678.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
