BMW’s new i3 just drove 753 miles on a single charge — SkimNews
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- BMW's i3 50L covered 753 miles (1,213 km) on a single charge, setting a new record for the automaker's EVs and achieving 8.8 kWh per 100 km across highways, city, and rural streets.
- BMW Group began series production of its sixth-generation (Gen6) EV batteries at a facility in Shenyang on October 15, its third global production site for the new battery technology.
- Gen6 cylindrical cells offer over 20% higher energy density, enable 30% faster charging, and deliver a longer driving range than BMW's previous-generation batteries.
- The i3 50L uses a 113.4 kWh battery with 800V architecture, delivering a CLTC range of over 621 miles (1,000 km) and adding up to 248 miles (400 km) of range in 10 minutes at up to 400 kW fast charging.
- The long-wheelbase i3, developed specifically for China and unveiled at the Chengdu Auto Show in August, is expected to go on sale later this year with customer deliveries set to begin in Q1 2027.
- BMW's run topped the Mercedes Vision EQXX's 1,202 km trip from Germany to the UK in 2022, though BMW said the achievement was a brand record, not a global one.
Why it matters: BMW is rolling out Gen6 battery technology to power its Neue Klasse lineup, and the i3 50L demo — at 8.8 kWh per 100 km — provides a real-world benchmark beating Mercedes' EQXX efficiency mark of 1,202 km. The China-specific long-wheelbase i3, with a 113.4 kWh pack and 10-minute fast-charging, serves as a technical showcase ahead of Q1 2027 customer deliveries starting at RMB 269,900.
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