Photo: Original image by autoevolution
After months of teasing and testing done by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the BMW i3 was finally rated by the organization and the numbers it got pushed it to the top of the “Top Ten EPA-Rated Fuel Sippers of 2014″ list.
According to the agency, the i3 is capable of a combined fuel efficiency of 124 MPGe. Inside the city, the Bimmer was rated at 138 MPG while on the highway, the number dropped to 111 MPGe.
As far as the autonomy goes, the EPA didn’t agree with the numbers reported by BMW. According to the press release from the Germans, the i3 is capable of up to 100 miles (160 km) of range using only one full battery charge.
However, in the US, the agency found that the i3 will do, at most, around 81 miles (130 km) on a full charge. Considering the battery in the BMW has only 22 kWh (18.8 kWh useable), it really not a bad result.
A simple exercise done by the guys from fueleconomy.gov also showed that the owners could save up to $9,000 in fuel over 5 years, compared to the average new vehicle.
Furthermore, the average new vehicle was described by them as a car that gets 23 mpg, therefore costs $11,500 to fuel over the 5 year period. The cost savings estimates were calculated assuming the car would do around 15,000 (24,150 km) a year. Taking all those numbers into consideration, the annual fuel cost adds up to just $500.
The new Top 10 EPA list will now look like this:
As far as the autonomy goes, the EPA didn’t agree with the numbers reported by BMW. According to the press release from the Germans, the i3 is capable of up to 100 miles (160 km) of range using only one full battery charge.
However, in the US, the agency found that the i3 will do, at most, around 81 miles (130 km) on a full charge. Considering the battery in the BMW has only 22 kWh (18.8 kWh useable), it really not a bad result.
A simple exercise done by the guys from fueleconomy.gov also showed that the owners could save up to $9,000 in fuel over 5 years, compared to the average new vehicle.
Furthermore, the average new vehicle was described by them as a car that gets 23 mpg, therefore costs $11,500 to fuel over the 5 year period. The cost savings estimates were calculated assuming the car would do around 15,000 (24,150 km) a year. Taking all those numbers into consideration, the annual fuel cost adds up to just $500.
The new Top 10 EPA list will now look like this:
- 2014 BMW i3 BEV 124 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Chevy Spark EV - 119 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Honda Fit EV - 118 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Fiat 500e - 116 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Nissan LEAF – 114 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Smart Fortwo ED Cabriolet - 107 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Smart Fortwo ED Coupe - 107 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Ford Focus Electric – 104 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Tesla Model S 60-kWh – 95 MPGe Combined
- 2014 Tesla Model S 85-kWh – 89 MPGe Combined
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