Is 89 kilometers of mileage enough?

Interim results from the long-term tests o parbriz.

OUR ELECTRIC marathon runner is getting old and it shows in the range: the original battery with a capacity of 18.8 kWh. (net) now allows for only 89 electric kilometers when fully charged. That's the equivalent of driving from the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to Potsdam and back, after which you have to charge again. Not 100 kilometers of range, is this car possible for you? It can. There are many driving profiles that the car suits. Of course, only under certain conditions. First: you should always have the nearest charging station in mind. Second: you should know the battery indicator. Why? In the first few kilometers, the remaining range hardly decreases, then it drops quickly in the middle range between 70 and 40 percent and is accurate again in the lower range when things get serious. That's the most important thing: even if there are only a few kilometers left, you can trust the car! We've made this clear, and since the battery capacity can be precisely planned, I don't trust myself to drive in the city, where I can charge literally on every corner. Instead, I boldly steer the range-conscious dwarf onto the motorway, where a quick-charging station awaits me after 70 kilometres. My ambition: to drive without the range extender. And it really works, I could actually drive another 15 kilometres. After 20 minutes of charging, that is, after a coffee and a walk around the corner, the i3 is ready for the next 90 kilometres. Even at night on country roads and with the high beams on, the i3 does well. In winter, it's a good idea to have a small blanket with you, because the seat heating doesn't work. A car suitable for everyday use? I say yes. The question arises as to what happens after that, because the battery does not improve over time. "Keep driving," advises Wieland Bruch, BMW's affable spokesman for electric mobility. Replacing the battery would be too expensive and would only restore the range to about 140 kilometers. It's not worth it, it's not much more than it is now. It's also clear to me: the i3 is not finished yet.

+ ten years old and driven by many people? His age doesn't show.

– Minus? The stiff ride with the thin wheels, I have no other criticisms of this car.

BMW i3 REX

START March 6, 2014

PRICE WITH EXTRAS 46502 euros

WE HAVE COVERED 155,486 km SO FAR

TEST CONSUMPTION 17.3 kWh/100 km