Londoner with no off-street parking

[nathan1901]

Hi all,

I fell in love with an i3 Rex that I test drove for a week-end, taking it from London to Brighton. Got a bit of range anxiety on the M23 as no services were available but the inconvenience of exiting the motorway for a few minutes was fine to me to refuel the Rex engine.
Main issue, is that I am a Londoner (Chiswick, W4). I do not have off-street parking and will have to rely on the public infrastructure to charge the battery.

It seems quite impossible with the different schemes to be able to rely on the current infrastructure (limitation on parking duration, so many stations on Source appears to be on maintenance for weeks, I don't see BMW banging the drums on installing more charging points like Tesla is doing, etc.). But I was willing to get the feedback of fellow Londoners who bought one and if they can solely rely on the current public infrastructure.

Maybe you'll be able to convince me

Have a great week-end all,
Thanks
Nathan

 

[PluviaPlumbum]

Nathan, I think you have identified the one flaw that will affect many city dwellers especially those that live with the limitations imposed by the underdeveloped infrastructure.
The Rex is a brilliant little vehicle and one that ( I hope) will fit my needs and lifestyle when it arrives shortly. The obvious answer is that this vehicle may not be the right one for you at this time. Have a look at the Audi eTron or the soon to be launched Golf GTE, both are excellent and based on the same drivetrain tech, with a 30 mile EV potential but greater ICE range than i3. which may well suit your needs better. Plus you are still going to be exempt London's Congestion charge for a long time, they also qualify for the ULEV tax write off if you purchase (but not lease) as a business. Best of luck with whatever you go with.
pp

 

[elptex]

I don't live in London (live out near Reading) but I have been traveling into it every other week since I got my i3, so several dozen times now. I have never had an issue charging. Ever. I've charged in more areas than I can remember, from all points of the map, both sides of the river, posh and not areas. I can't see how a Londoner would struggle--the charging infrastructure is prolific in London. There might not be one immediately where you live, though every time I have charged I have always been within a 5 minute walk of where ever I was going.

My only "concern" is that over the next 3 years, more and more people will get EV's so the demand on the infrastructure will go up. As of now, I have always been able to pull right up to a charging point and plug in...I suspect within even the next year that won't always be the case. But for now, its awesome.