BMW has announced a new 94Ah battery option for the i3 compact electric car in a move that is claimed to extend the vehicle's overall range by up to 110km, or more than 50%, to a distance of 300km.
To be made available to customers from July, the new lithium ion battery is supplied by South Korean firm Samsung.
It retains the same dimensions as the existing 60Ah unit, which has been on the market since 2014.
The company said the new battery increases the i3 efficiency in severe weather conditions, claiming a range of up to 200km when the air conditioner or heater is in operation.
The power output and the torque given by the vehicle remains unchanged at 125kW (170hp).The motor forces the BMW i3 from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds. .
The 2-cylinder petrol engine keeps the charge level of the battery constant and driving offers an additional range of 150km.
The introduction of new battery option offers more powerful charging stations for home garage use and new equipment options.
Customers can have their first-generation battery retrofitted as part of a special retrofit program and have the new battery type installed.
Image: New i3 with 94Ah battery. Photo: Courtesy of BMW.
