Today I was helping a BMW i3-REx owner understand some features that she'd never used since getting the car in 2014:
"It is like having two children, which one do you like most?" I replied and she laughed.
The Prius Prime, 25 mile battery gives 3 stops around town before needing a charge. So I often shop where I can also get a free charge like Propst Discount Drugs in the 5-Points area or Whole Foods. I also shop in the near-by stores and restaurants. She noticed my vanity plate, "199 MPG" but is driving her BMW i3-REx to Florida tomorrow. She know the BMW i3-REx will take five gas stops on the way down hence the portable gas cans.
I explained the Prius Prime drove 1,200 miles from Connecticut to Huntsville and filled up once. It gets 56-58 MPG on the highway which makes it exceptionally efficient cross country. In contrast the BMW i3-REx driven EV to Nashville costs ~$24 because the two fast DC chargers cost ~$12 each for about 60 miles of range. But driving back from Nashville only cost $6 in gas. The cost of fast DC charging away from home is too expensive compared to gas.
She asked about emissions and I pointed out that driving gas on the highway is surrounded by fields and trees that neutralize emissions. In contrast, the city has streets, houses, and buildings that do nothing to deal with emissions.
For dynamic cruise control training, I explained that it takes a while to feel confident but 'let's do a test drive.' I drove in rush hour traffic to the city limits so she could see the display and buttons as I used them. Sure enough, a rush hour commuter steered into our lane and I braked pointing out 'you must still monitor the car' but over 90% of the driving uses dynamic cruise control. We stopped at a gas station and she drove me back in the much lighter traffic headed into town while I talked her through the controls.
She has 55,000 miles on her 2014 BMW i3-REx but now she knows how to get the maximum from her car. The navigation map changes and dynamic cruise control makes a good car into a great car.
Bob Wilson
- Changing the navigation map to a flat 2D with enhanced contrast.
- Fixing the portable gas can caps so it won't leak (some assembly is required.)
- Driving on dynamic cruise control.
"It is like having two children, which one do you like most?" I replied and she laughed.
The Prius Prime, 25 mile battery gives 3 stops around town before needing a charge. So I often shop where I can also get a free charge like Propst Discount Drugs in the 5-Points area or Whole Foods. I also shop in the near-by stores and restaurants. She noticed my vanity plate, "199 MPG" but is driving her BMW i3-REx to Florida tomorrow. She know the BMW i3-REx will take five gas stops on the way down hence the portable gas cans.
I explained the Prius Prime drove 1,200 miles from Connecticut to Huntsville and filled up once. It gets 56-58 MPG on the highway which makes it exceptionally efficient cross country. In contrast the BMW i3-REx driven EV to Nashville costs ~$24 because the two fast DC chargers cost ~$12 each for about 60 miles of range. But driving back from Nashville only cost $6 in gas. The cost of fast DC charging away from home is too expensive compared to gas.
She asked about emissions and I pointed out that driving gas on the highway is surrounded by fields and trees that neutralize emissions. In contrast, the city has streets, houses, and buildings that do nothing to deal with emissions.
For dynamic cruise control training, I explained that it takes a while to feel confident but 'let's do a test drive.' I drove in rush hour traffic to the city limits so she could see the display and buttons as I used them. Sure enough, a rush hour commuter steered into our lane and I braked pointing out 'you must still monitor the car' but over 90% of the driving uses dynamic cruise control. We stopped at a gas station and she drove me back in the much lighter traffic headed into town while I talked her through the controls.
She has 55,000 miles on her 2014 BMW i3-REx but now she knows how to get the maximum from her car. The navigation map changes and dynamic cruise control makes a good car into a great car.
Bob Wilson
