BMW i.

The way in which an electric car functions differs fundamentally from that of a vehicle with a combustion engine in that the motor of an electric car is not powered by fuel but exclusively by electricity. This electricity is stored in a battery, the capacity of which helps determine the range, in other words, the distance that can be covered with one battery charge.

An electric car has many advantages; it is emission-free while driving and depending on your average annual mileage, it may work out cheaper than a conventional petrol or diesel car. Use our Test Your Drive tool to see whether BMW's all-electric i3 could be cheaper for you, compared to a regular petrol or diesel model. The BMW i3 and BMW i3s also have a Category 1 rating, so you can receive a £3,000 government grant towards the cost of purchasing one. Plus, for business use, BMW i3 models have a BIK tax rate of 0% for 2020. The driving experience also offers unique benefits, including the instant torque, which adds extra thrills into every journey while delivering minimal engine noise.

In the UK, a Government plug-in grant is available for vehicles which emit less than 50g/km of CO2 and can travel at least 70 miles emission free, which means that the BMW i3 and BMW i3s are both eligible. The value of the grant is up to 35% of the purchase price of the vehicle up to £3,000, for those vehicles costing less than £50,000.

Who an electric car is suitable for depends on the driver’s particular preferences – with an average range of several hundred miles, BMW electric cars can definitely exist both in urban and commuter traffic. A BMW i3 or BMW i3s with four seats is a suitable family car as will be the BMW iX3, which is due to launch soon.

A purely electric car has the lowest level of emissions while actually being used, potentially lower running costs when comparing fuel charges to home electricity tariffs, and (for business use) a BIK tax rate of 0% for 2020. However, the combination of combustion engine and electric drive means that a plug-in hybrid can in fact achieve a higher overall range than an electric car.

How can I supply my vehicle with electricity during the day and will my BMW still be charged in time before I have to leave?

With the Digital Charging Service, questions like this will no longer be necessary. This is because the intelligent charging assistant takes care of topping up the battery at the charging station in your home, during the day or night, or from the socket, fully automatically, efficiently and, above all, in an environmentally friendly way. Enter your electricity tariff, your planned departure time and your preferred charging mode in the new My BMW app. Using this information, the Digital Charging Service will ensure that your BMW is supplied with electricity during the most economical tariff periods and is charged in time for your departure.

Please note that this feature is only possible in conjunction with the BP Pulse Homecharge Unit.

If there is sufficient charge for a trip into the city, will I be able to find a charging station there? Remote Services provides a convenient means of checking this via the My BMW app on your smartphone. You can also use the My BMW app to prepare your electric car for departure before you set off. A program installed in the vehicle then automatically sets the battery to the optimum status so that consumption and range can be exploited to maximum effect.

Please note that this feature may only be available with additional optional equipment. Availability of BMW ConnectedDrive Services are dependent on vehicle specification, optional equipment and production date. Please consult your local BMW Retailer for more information if required.

One exclusive navigation service for the BMW i3 is the range display, which is located in the navigation map and indicates the range of the electric car in the form of a blue zone. It shows precisely how much farther you can travel with the current charge level. As soon as you enter a destination that exceeds the calculated range, a stop for charging is proposed.

Let’s imagine you have found a destination, want to set off immediately without losing any time at all. It’s all very easy with Send to Car. Look for interesting locations such as your favourite restaurant or the nearest day trip in the “Destinations” section of the My BMW app. There you will also find a display of the nearest charging stations on your route. Then click on “Go” or send the data directly to the navigation system of your BMW. When you have clicked on “Go”, the navigation launches automatically as soon as it connects with your smartphone via Bluetooth when you enter the vehicle. When you have sent your desired destination to the navigation system, you will find the address saved under the menu item “Messages”. From there you can activate the navigation immediately or at a later point in time.