Making resources count with the BMW i3

When you drive an electric car, you want it to feel as normal as possible to a conventional petrol car in every way, without being reminded that you’re in the future.

People want technology with familiarity.

Previous hybrid petrol-electric cars over the years have been dolled up to tap you on the shoulder and give you a reminder that you’re different, aloof and above the crowd, when this compromises the desire of owners to stay rather incognito.

But batteries – everything we have in our pockets and homes, even more so now with loadshedding around, runs on a battery.

And I guarantee you that if it’s not flat already, it’s going flat very quickly.

There are lots of advantages to electric mobility, if you appreciate being relatively anonymous, moving about in silence, or able to ignore the shock and horror when the petrol price inflates.

To be fair though, you’d probably have to have it in luminous green so the pedestrian you hit can never claim he didn’t see it coming, and drive on a constant economy run.

A lot of people are of the opinion that hybrid cars are certainly the future, but their price puts them off buying – but this isn’t necessarily the case anymore.

As electric cars with an on-board little petrol generator that recharges the batteries as you drive, you may sacrifice on sleek looks, but this is made up with lightning acceleration.

Electric motors push out huge levels of torque on-demand, making what seems like a little eco-box feel like a GTi.

The BMW i3 is a quintessential example of service over show-off, hiding it’s clever tricks under a sea of normality.

A service like BMW Concierge connects you remotely to a lovely lady in Spain who immediately uploads directions to your satellite navigation, leaving you to simply slot into ‘drive’ and hum to your destination.

A delight when the car slowly flushes your face with an air-conditioner and controls most of the forgetful thoughts we have as modern folk.

A distance sensor in the front bumper brakes for you and a rear-view camera helps you back the tiny little five-seater, letting you hop out of the Rolls Royce style suicide rear doors.

As a driver, having driven hundreds of different cars – the i3 has been the most relaxing, soothing driving experience in a stressful and modern world.

While life races past, the i3 slows life down for you with a wooden dash, spacious floor due to no transmission tunnel and relaxed peace of mind.

It’s not even expensive either, if you value future benefits over immediate luxury: at under R900,000, the highest specified i3 costs less than the average BMW 3-Series, Mercedes C-Class, Audi A4 or Range Rover, and won’t cost you nearly as much to run – making the savings a killing.

I’d include an i3 in my perfect five car garage. Contact BMW SMG in Ballito for a test drive.

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