Wifi

[Artbishop]

Wifi. Add wifi capability to CONNECTEDDRIVE. I estimate almost all i3 owners will have tablets or computers at home and use wifi routers. Many have smartphones, many do not (I don't). For the next 5 years the i3 charging will be almost all from the home. A typical scenario would be the i3 charging during the evening being monitored/controlled from an iPad in the home using a wifi connection. Communities are expanding their wifi networks and smartphones try to connect routinely. There is no cost for wifi.

 

[alon]

nice suggestion... I agree with you...

 

[Yiiikes]

This isn't a complete substitution but BMW does have an app that will let you monitor charging from your phone

"With the BMW i Remote App for iOS and Android, you can receive detailed information about the current status of the BMW i3 at any time. This includes, for example, range display, battery condition and charge level, service messages and also the vehicle location. The climate control of the passenger cell and the high-voltage battery can be activated before the journey via smart phone so that the BMW i3 is already set to the ideal temperature when entering the vehicle and to ensure that the performance of the high-voltage battery is optimised. The BMW i Remote App Also supports your route planning. Important goals, such as available charging stations can easily be sent to the vehicle before starting the journey"
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/i/i3/2013/showroom/connectivity.html

 

[AndyW]

I'm awaiting a reply from BMW UK about which network the sim card is connected to, as I don't get good 3G coverage from all of them. Wifi would be a good solution.

 

[Bunter]

+1 for the wi-fi suggestion and I'd add bluetooth connectivity between car and app. I also asked about what network carries the data link and have had no reply. I'm in a rural setting here and am not confident I will be able to talk to the car when it is on the drive let alone in the garage. Wi-fi would fix that issue.

I plan to ride to work on nice days in the summer and leave the i3 at home in conjunction with remote monitoring of the surplus from my solar array. I'd then initiate charging when there is sufficient surplus, so connectivity is important. I'd rather not use a We-Mo or similar on a 10 amp draw

Bill

 

[Atommad]

+1 for the wi-fi suggestion and I'd add bluetooth connectivity between car and app. I also asked about what network carries the data link and have had no reply. I'm in a rural setting here and am not confident I will be able to talk to the car when it is on the drive let alone in the garage. Wi-fi would fix that issue.

I plan to ride to work on nice days in the summer and leave the i3 at home in conjunction with remote monitoring of the surplus from my solar array. I'd then initiate charging when there is sufficient surplus, so connectivity is important. I'd rather not use a We-Mo or similar on a 10 amp draw

Bill

Agree with wi-fi. Not confident I will get a good signal.

Bill, I like the sound of your setup with solar. Help me out, what is We-Mo?

 

[AndyW]

I'm awaiting a reply from BMW UK about which network the sim card is connected to, as I don't get good 3G coverage from all of them. Wifi would be a good solution.

I have clarified that the imbedded sim runs on the Vodafone network where ever possible, however, if this network is unavailable then the sim is able to switch to another UK network. My suggestion would be to take a BMW i3 vehicle if possible (please contact your BMW iagent) to your home address and check that the vehicles features work.

I know this may be a tall order and not an ideal process, however, given the fact that you have highlighted the poor mobile reception around your home address. I find this is the best option to allow you to understand if you are able to use the desired features you require around your home address.

So it seems to be a simcard capable of switching between networks - is that even possible?

 

[I33t]

So it seems to be a simcard capable of switching between networks - is that even possible?

Sure. simcard phones can roam from one network to the next if their config allows it. Network providers do deals to allow their users to maintain coverage in areas they have little or no hardware. Overseas roaming is another example.

 

[Bunter]

Bill, I like the sound of your setup with solar. Help me out, what is We-Mo?

The We-Mo is a wi-fi controlled socket. It plugs into a normal 13 amp outlet and your device plugs into it. The We-Mo is connected to your wi-fi such that power delivery can be controlled remotely from an app on a smartphone or tablet. Reliable implementation issues aside (of which there are plenty) I would not be too happy controlling such a large current through this device.

Simcards can definitely swap networks like BMW have indicated. When abroad I get better battery life on my phone because it always connects to the strongest signal instead of upping the transmission power to try and stay connected to a weak signal which is what it does in the UK.

So the report that the i3 simcard can swap between networks is very encouraging as we have a very good 3G signal with Three here. If it can use that network I will be OK I think.

But ultimately I won't know that what I want to be able to do is possible until the car arrives.

Bill

 

[surfingslovak]

The BMW My Remote app for the ActiveE, the precursor of the i3, has not been very reliable. Although the performance and behavior of the i3 app will likely be vastly better, I can certainly relate to the frustration in the event that the app should not be responsive for some reason. The idea of adding local connectivity is an interesting one, and I believe that Honda has done something similar with the keyfob for Fit EV. I believe that this allows for local access to the vehicle, and I have heard owners comment favorably about this implementation.

 

[Boatguy]

+1 for WiFi. My garage is mostly encased in concrete with poor cell reception. But I can easily extend my wifi to the garage.