A BMW i3 EV Went 753 Miles On A Single Charge. Its Energy Consumption Was Astonishing

That’s more than many gas-powered sedans on the road today.

Photo by: BMW

By: Iulian Dnistran

Oct 15, at 6:58am ET

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BMW loves driving its new EVs to extremes, and the latest-generation i3 sedan is no exception.
The automaker took a new i3 on an endurance test in China, and the results are impressive.
After driving on various highways, national roads, and urban streets, the Neue Klasse sedan averaged a whopping 7 miles/kWh.

There’s no denying that BMW did its homework with the new Neue Klasse models. When it comes to efficiency, the 800-volt EVs can hold their own against industry heavyweights, proving time and time again that range anxiety is a thing of the past.

But after pouring billions of dollars into the model line’s development, BMW will seize any opportunity it has to promote its new EVs, and the i3 sedan is the latest car to come under the spotlight.

2026 BMW i3 Long Wheelbase (China)

Photo by: BMW

The automaker took a rear-wheel-drive, long-wheelbase i3 on an endurance run that included highways, national roads, and urban streets, and the result is truly impressive: 753 miles (1,213 kilometers) with 1% still left in the battery.

That’s more than most gas-powered cars on sale today can achieve with a full tank, and proof that EVs can replace traditional combustion vehicles today. It’s also a lot more than I can survive behind the wheel without needing a break.

Considering the i3’s generous 108.7-kilowatt-hour (usable) battery, the extremely long range test resulted in an astonishing energy consumption of just 14.1 kilowatt-hours/100 miles, or an average efficiency of 7 miles/kWh. But it gets better still, as the top-spec i3 can charge at up to 400 kW, with a 10-to-80% top-up taking just 21 minutes.

There is one asterisk in there, though. The car that achieved the impressive range result is a Chinese-spec model with rear-wheel drive and an extended wheelbase, whereas the i3 that will be sold in the United States and Europe will initially be offered with dual-motor all-wheel drive only.

What do you think?

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Comments

In the U.S., the i3 50 xDrive has an EPA-estimated 468 miles of range. However, a rear-motor version is coming too, and, more importantly, the i3 50’s battery pack is the same across the world, so owners in the U.S. can expect great results, too.

BMW didn’t disclose the trip’s average speed, and we don’t know how much time the i3 spent on highways and city streets. If I were to guess, I’d say that the speed was pretty low, like during the 626-mile iX3 trip from last year. Then again, not everyone needs to go on a cross-country road trip every week, so the real-world range should be plentiful.