2017 BMW I3 vs 2018

What's the difference?

Tim Robson reviews the new BMW i3 94Ah BEV with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The discussions around the place of the electric car in the modern motoring ecosystem are unlikely to abate any time soon.

MORE: Read the full BMW i3 2016 review

Some manufacturers have taken charge (get it?) and committed to a future with an electric element to it, and BMW is at the forefront of the movement.

New to the range is this, the i3 BEV 94Ah – and yes, that's its proper name. The '94' is the important bit; it refers to the capacity of the same-sized but more efficient Samsung-sourced battery array which increases the i3's range to a claimed 310km maximum, via the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standard.

The first i3 – which is still offered for sale - has a battery capacity of 60Ah and is 50kg lighter.

BMW, to its credit, says that the real world figure – a world where people use air conditioning and drive up hills – is actually closer to 200km.

So the i3 BEV is an all-electric car with a projected range of about 200km – and there's no way to extend it unless you're near a power point. Is Australia ready for such a dedicated EV?

I'm confused.

I'm not entirely sure the world needed this car. It's the new 2018 BMW i3s, a new sportier version of the regular BMW i3.

Why am I not sure if the world needed it?

Well, I would have thought i3 buyers were eco-greenies? People who are more into lower emissions than lower 0-100km/h times?

But, what do you know - the new i3s has both of those bases covered. It's more efficient, offers more range - but also happens to be quicker and more fun to drive.