2015 BMW I3 range extender

CockpitVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due tothe selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
All around the steering wheel
1Power windows   502Exterior mirror operation   573Unlocking hood  44
Unlock tailgate   45
With Range Extender: vent fuel tank   1694LightsParking lights  90Low beams  90Automatic headlight con‐
trol   91
Daytime running lights   91Instrument lighting  915Left steering column stalkTurn signal  71High beams, head‐
light flasher   71Seite 14At a glanceCockpit14
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BMW eDRIVEVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due to
the selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
BMW eDRIVE Special features of the BMW i
High-voltage system
This BMW i is an electric vehicle. The vehicle
features a high-voltage system that consists of
an electric motor and a high-voltage battery
among other things. Optionally, the vehicle has
a combustion engine that generates electrical
energy via a generator and thereby increases
the range. This combustion engine is called
the Range Extender.
Carbon bodyThe vehicle consists of two different functional
units: the drive module made from aluminum
and the life module made from carbon fiber re‐
inforced plastic (carbon).At a glance1Vehicle battery2Fuel filler flap3High-voltage battery4Charging port5Drive unit
The concept
The vehicle can be operated completely emis‐
sions free using its electrical drive system.
The special high-voltage battery supplies theelectric motor as well as the comfort features
with power.
The high-voltage battery is charged via a
charging cable, e.g., when parked or while driv‐
ing by energy recovery.
Charging can be done especially quickly via
special power connections. However, charging
via conventional power supply - at home - is
also possible.
On the go, the energy recovery ensures that
only little energy is lost when braking.
When the vehicle decelerates, the electric mo‐
tor assumes the function of a generator and
completely or partially converts the freed up
motion energy into electrical power.
As a result the high-voltage battery is partially
recharged in order to reach maximum range.
Seite 31BMW eDRIVEAt a glance31
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An optional Range Extender can supply the
drive system with power and thus increase the
range of the vehicle.
Functions
Electric driving: eDRIVE
The vehicle is powered exclusively by the elec‐
tric motor. The accelerator pedal can be used
not just for acceleration, but also for decelera‐
tion. In this case, the electric motor works like
a generator and charges the high voltage bat‐
tery. With a sensible driving style, this function
can be used for especially efficient energy re‐
covery and comfortable driving, using just the
accelerator pedal.
Coasting
An especially efficient operating point is so-
called coasting. In this case, the vehicle is de‐
celerated only by driving resistance and no en‐
ergy flows between high-voltage battery and
electric motor. In order to coast, depress the
accelerator pedal far enough that the mark in
the instrument cluster, refer to page 75, is
exactly in the center.
Energy recovery: CHARGE
The high-voltage battery is charged while driv‐
ing through energy recovery.
The electric motor acts as a generator and
converts the kinetic energy of the vehicle into
electric current.
Charging can take place in various situations
while the vehicle is in motion:▷As soon as the gas pedal is only slightly
depressed.▷During vehicle braking.
The mark in the instrument cluster is located
within the CHARGE range.
Sensible driving and early speed reduction are
important to make full use of the energy recov‐
ery feature.
Display
The eDRIVE displays, refer to page 75, pro‐
vide information about the current state of the
drive and visualize the system's use in a dia‐
gram.
Maximize energy-saving driving and
range
Energy-saving driving is the basic prerequisite
for as large a range as possible. eDRIVE pro‐ vides various functions that assist with an en‐
ergy-saving driving style and in the process
help to monitor the range and if needed to in‐
crease it. The following instructions provide an
overview of the available functions and the per‐
sonal measures.
Before driving
eDRIVE allows using the air conditioner even
before driving off. The stationary climate con‐
trol, refer to page 133, provides more range
than full air conditioning while driving.
Parked car ventilation during the charging
process can provide maximum range when
driving off.
Trip planning and special functions of
the navigation system
Several special functions of the navigation sys‐
tem support trip planning taking into account
the electric range:▷Range assistant, refer to Integrated Own‐
er's Manual. Checks whether an entered
navigation destination can be reached. If
the range is not sufficient, various recom‐
mendations to help increase the range are
displayed automatically, e.g. an alternative
ECO PRO route is displayed.▷Intermodal routing oder intermodal infor‐
mation, refer to Integrated Owner's
Manual, as route criterion support trip
planning using public transportation.Seite 32At a glanceBMW eDRIVE32
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The following exemplary driving situations may
show that:▷Decelerating downhill.▷Deceleration before a red light.
Avoid late or abrupt braking. Instead, deceler‐
ate the vehicle using energy recovery.
Coasting
The electric drive makes it possible to roll with‐
out consuming energy. This driving condition
is referred to as coasting.
Proactive driving reduces energy consumption
and increases the range.
With vehicle rolling, no energy is recovered.
Exemplary traffic situations If a route can be traveled without anticipated
need for braking, it is advantageous to roll.
The following exemplary driving situations may
show that:
▷Rolling on a straight downhill route without
obstacles.▷Coasting on a route without obstacles.
Avoid late or abrupt braking.
Range Extender
Increase range
If the charging state of the high-voltage battery
drops during travel to a minimum value, the
Range Extender starts and supplies the re‐
quired electrical energy for driving on.
The symbol on the charging state indicator
designates a Range Extender reel-on time.
The Range Extender controls its output auto‐
matically, turns itself off and restarts according
to the driving situation.
The high-voltage battery will not be charged
by the Range Extender.
Automatic maintenance run
To ensure that the Range Extender functions
properly even during longer periods of non-
use, the Range Extender is automatically acti‐
vated for a few minutes at certain intervals dur‐
ing the trip. Respective Check Control
messages indicate the dry run. Should that oc‐
cur at an unfavorable time you may cancel the
dry run by pressing the Start/Stop button. It
postpones the dry run.
Should the high-voltage battery be fully
charged or if there is not enough gas in the
tank then a dry run will not be executed.
Heavily discharged high-voltage
battery
If the high-voltage battery is heavily dis‐
charged during the trip, the performance and
some comfort features are reduced step-by-
step to extend the range.
Heated high-voltage battery
With a stationary dirt In exceptional cases, it is possible that the
high-voltage battery heats up sharply when the
vehicle is stationary. E. g. with extreme exter‐
nal temperatures and direct solar radiation.
With a overheated high-voltage battery, drive
readiness cannot be switched on.
A Check Control message is displayed.
Another message will indicate when drive
readiness is available again.
While driving
If the high-voltage battery overheats during the
trip, the performance is reduced step-by-step
in order to cool down the battery. The ePO‐
WER performance display in the instrument
cluster returns in the process. When tempera‐
ture increases further, park the vehicle until the
high-voltage batter has cooled down. Should
the performance display fall to 0, drive readi‐Seite 69DrivingControls69
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DisplaysVehicle features and optionsThis chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due tothe selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Instrument cluster
The concept
The instrument cluster is a variable display.
Some of the displays in the instrument clustermay differ from the way they are shown in this
Owner's Handbook.
At a glance
1Computer   862Driver assistance systems3Speedometer4Drive readiness indicator   655ECO PRO tips  1556Trip odometer   827Driving Dynamics Control program   1088Range for electric driving  839Battery charge indicator  7710Performance display  77
Selection list, such as for the radio   8511Range Extender range  83Seite 75DisplaysControls75
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12Range Extender fuel gauge  8213Messages, e.g. Check Control14Display, drive mode  66
Charging screen
1Charging status  1662End of charging time   166
Departure time with timer   1673Maximum electrical range   1664Stationary climate control  1675Range for electric driving  1666Charging state  777Range Extender range   838With Range Extender: fuel gauge   82Displaying the eDRIVE
system
Displays in the instrument cluster
The concept The display depends on the system's operat‐
ing condition. The following functions of the
eDRIVE system are shown in the instrument
cluster:▷High-voltage battery charge indicator.▷Electric driving: ePOWER.▷Energy recovery: CHARGE.▷Drive readiness: READY.Seite 76ControlsDisplays76
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High-voltage battery charge indicator
High voltage
Even if no fill level bars are displayed next
to the battery symbol, the high-voltage system
is still under high voltage.◀
The fill level bars indicate the available charg‐
ing state of the high-voltage battery when op‐
erating readiness and drive readiness are
switched on.
With a low range the color of the charging sta‐
tus indicator switches from blue to yellow.
In addition, the range for electric driving is dis‐
played.
With Range Extender: maintaining charging state
The arrow on the charging state indicator
designates the Range Extender reel-on time. If
Range Extender is activated, the current
charging state of the high-voltage battery is
maintained.
▷Gray arrow: Range Extender deactivated.▷White arrow: Range Extender activated.Performance display
The accelerator pedal indicator in the perform‐
ance display indicates the current efficiency of
the driving style. The efficient range of the per‐
formance display is colored blue.
Accelerator pedal indicator in the CHARGE
range, arrow 1: display for energy recovered by
coasting or when decelerating.
Accelerator pedal indicator in the ePOWER
range, arrow 2: display when accelerating.
Use eDRIVE efficiently, refer to page 148.
Drive readiness: READY The READY display indicates
that the vehicle is ready for driv‐
ing. Drive readiness in detail, re‐
fer to page 65.
Indications on the Control Display
Fuel consumption history
The top bars indicate the average energy con‐
sumed while driving time, arrow 1. The lower
Seite 77DisplaysControls77
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With Range Extender: fuel
gauge
The fill level bars indicate the available fuel
supply of the Range Extender when operating
readiness and drive readiness are switched on.
Additional range of the Range Extender on top
of pure electric range. If the Range Extender is
activated, the color of the fill level bar indicator
switches from gray to white.
Vehicle tilt position may cause the display to
vary.
Hints on refueling, refer to page 169.
Coolant temperature If the coolant along with the engine becomes
too hot, a Check Control message is displayed.
Check the coolant level, refer to page 186.
Odometer and trip odometer
Display▷Odometer, arrow 1, Scope of the on-board
computer, refer to page 86.▷Trip odometer, arrow 2.
Show/reset kilometers: TRIP
Press the knob.
▷With operating readiness turned off, the
time, the external temperature and the od‐
ometer are displayed.▷When operating readiness is switched on,
the trip odometer is reset.
External temperature
If the indicator drops to +37 ℉/+3 ℃ or lower, a
signal sounds.
A Check Control message is displayed.
There is an increased risk of ice on roads.
Seite 82ControlsDisplays82
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