BMW i3 Performance Lie (Beware)

I love the BMW i3, but I can’t ignore the flaws. Every summer in Phoenix, Arizona the heat gets intense. The BMW i3 reliability becomes questionable because the car does not have an active Battery Thermal Management System. This means that the i3 does not normally run active cooling while parked unless it’s plugged in and preconditioning is scheduled. If the car is just sitting unplugged in the sun, the battery relies more on passive insulation. The BTMS activates only while driving, charging, or preconditioning. This means that in very hot climates, the i3’s battery may see higher resting temps compared to Tesla’s. Despite this, the BMW i3 is awesome. If you are in the market for an i3, make sure you really understand how it works before you get disappointed.