What is the long term operating cost of an i3 with range ex?

[Pauli3]

I would like to compare the maintenance cost of operating an i3 with range extender for 300,000 miles as compared to operating a regular gas car like a BMW 328.
Let's assume 20% use of range extender or 60,000 miles and one complete battery change out.
What maintenance will be required besides brakes, tires, and shocks? Will the motor bearings ever go out? Any transmission maintenance? What will the 650 cc motor need like head gasket,plugs, or rebuilt after 60,000 miles?

Am I wrong to assume I could be driving a like new performing i3 in 30 years with no major repairs other than battery?

Will the overall long term cost be less than a gas 328 or other car with oil changes, transmission fluid changes, plugs, plug wires, radiator flush, water pump, head gasket, ... ? Additional to the cost of these is many hours of dropping off car, picking up car, waiting room, paperwork.

 

[Surge]

I don't think you're wrong in your assumption.
However, no one really knows, as the i3 is so new.

No one seems to know what a replacement battery will cost, for example.

The main issue I see is the electronics failing and BMW no longer supplying the parts.

 

[mindmachine]

I would like to compare the maintenance cost of operating an i3 with range extender for 300,000 miles as compared to operating a regular gas car like a BMW 328.
Let's assume 20% use of range extender or 60,000 miles and one complete battery change out.
What maintenance will be required besides brakes, tires, and shocks? Will the motor bearings ever go out? Any transmission maintenance? What will the 650 cc motor need like head gasket,plugs, or rebuilt after 60,000 miles?

Am I wrong to assume I could be driving a like new performing i3 in 30 years with no major repairs other than battery?

Will the overall long term cost be less than a gas 328 or other car with oil changes, transmission fluid changes, plugs, plug wires, radiator flush, water pump, head gasket, ... ? Additional to the cost of these is many hours of dropping off car, picking up car, waiting room, paperwork.

I think some of your assumptions may be off. First 300,000 miles and especially 30 years is a very long time indeed, especially considering how fast technology is changing. Aftermarket parts for a 20 year plus year old car can get quite hard to find and expensive unless the OEM continues to make spare parts. I don't know what BMW does now or intends to do in the future, but most manufacturers don't continue to make spare parts that long, and at least in the US are not required by law to do it either.

However my main disagreement is how many miles you will use the Rex. In the next 5 to 10 years you will see a huge increase in the charging station infrastructure. Electricity will probably continue to be much cheaper than gas and availability of DC rapid charging opportunities should increase substantially. So even if you are correct in estimating the use of the Rex at 20% of the miles you drive in 2014/2015 as availability of charging opportunity increases I would expect to see you use of the Rex decrease. Plus even in the beginning I don't think you will use the Rex any where near to 20% of the time.

Also the Rex does not have a transmission, it runs a generator that supplies electricity to the battery pack and the electric motor, no transmission at all.

Thirty years, I find it hard to believe that anyone with enough money to purchase the i3 now could stand by and watch the advances this industry is going to go thru and not trade up to a way more advanced version in say 10 or 15 years at the longest.

Just my 2 cents worth, good luck.