BMW offers driving range extender for the i3′s

Herbert Diess, BMW’s Head of R&D, said in an interview with Automotive News that the i3 will be offered with a two-cylinder motorcycle engine option with a generator to extend its range. This will increase the capability of the standard electric drivetrain to 250 miles on a tank of gasoline.

BMW offered this optional range extender is to help first time users of electric cars get over the anxiety they might feel in getting this vehicle. Diess said: “I imagine many buyers will order the range extender to cure their range anxiety, discovering later they need it very seldom.” He also said that BMW expects this optional range extender to improve the sales of the car by more than 50%.