On either two wheels or four, BMW's
electric powertrain is a joy to use
Lifting off the accelerator in the i3
provokes such a distinct braking effect as the electric motor switches
instantly to energy recuperation mode that it can come as a surprise to anyone
accustomed to the way most cars behave on a trailing throttle. The strength of
the deceleration varies depending on how fast the car is going (it's much
gentler at higher speeds), but essentially it's like carefully applying the
conventional brakes, the car bringing itself to a brisk halt if you let it. It
may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
The
i3's handling is aided by plenty of traction and a perfectly judged accelerator
response
What this pronounced 'engine braking' means
is that for much of the time you can drive the i3 using just the one pedal. And
when you think about how many times you speed up, slow down and come to a
standstill during a typical commute, this makes a big difference to the
smoothness of your progress - already first class thanks to the electric
motor's inherently creamy, stepless power delivery. The elastic way in which
the i3 glides to a stop in traffic and takes off again, with the driver's right
foot never moving from the accelerator, is quite an uncanny experience and
makes pretty much everything else seem clunky in comparison - even other EVs.
There's also a distinct 'neutral' position
(holding a very light throttle) in which the car simply coasts in a wonderfully
friction-free way. This is relatively easy to judge either by feel or by
looking at the modern equivalent of BMW's traditional economy gauge in the
instrument display and keeping the little 'swingometer' centrally positioned,
showing that the electric motor is neither drawing nor replenishing battery
power.
Interior
impresses with its twin-screen dashboard, airiness and the quality, detailing
and logic of the switchgear
The braking effect isn't just a boon in
city driving, either; it's equally useful on a B-road (where the i3 is good
fun) or if you're barrelling into a roundabout on a dual-carriageway. Back off
at the point where you'd normally start braking and you'll usually be doing the
right speed as you go in, although there are times when you might need a quick
dab of the brakes as well.
The obvious next question to ask is:
"If the i3 is slowing as though you've braked, do following drivers get
any warning?" The answer, of course, is that the i3's brake lights come on
if the electric motor generates the same deceleration as the discs would have.
I haven't had a single case yet of a tailing car looking as though it's about
to rear-end the i3, so I guess it works.
Pop
the bonnet and you'll find the puncture repair kit and enough extra space for a
couple of small bags
Much of the powertrain's cleverness is
shared with the new BMW C Evolution scooter we tried for a couple of weeks
recently. The punchy electric scoot, which has a range of about 65 miles,
harnesses energy under deceleration as efficiently as the i3 in three of its
riding modes, the main difference being that the C Evolution also has a 'Sail'
mode in which there's no recuperation at all and the scooter simply freewheels
when you roll off the throttle. Some people might wonder why the i3 doesn't
have a mode like this but, in practice, on both the scooter and in the i3, the
braking effect is so well judged and useful that before long you'll find
yourself wondering why all vehicles don't have this feature.
