Powertrain families
Gen1/Gen2 BMW eDrive · 647 cc range-extender twin
i3 (I01) — 5-door Hatchback
2013–2022
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- I01
- Production
- 2013–2022
- Body style
- 5-door hatchback
- Platform
- BMW i · electric / PHEV
Body variants
i3 → I01 → 5-door Hatchback
i3 I01: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected 5-door hatchback fits into the family.
I01 i3 was BMW Group's first mass-produced battery-electric car and used a purpose-built LifeDrive architecture: a carbon-fibre-reinforced-plastic passenger cell bonded to an aluminium drive module. Its rear electric motor, battery under the floor and rear-hinged side doors made it technically separate from later electric derivatives of conventional BMW platforms.
Battery capacity evolved from 60 Ah to 94 Ah and then 120 Ah cell generations. Many markets also offered a small two-cylinder Range Extender that generated electricity but did not mechanically drive the wheels; battery-only and REx cars therefore have different mass, fuel system, luggage and service records.
The sportier i3s joined in 2017 with higher motor output, wider track and dedicated chassis tuning. Leipzig ended series production on 30 June 2022 after more than 250,000 cars, so later registrations do not extend the I01 production boundary.
2013–2022generation lifecycle
1body branches
2engine/drive families
5range designations
I01factory code
BMW i · electric / PHEVarchitecture
5-door Hatchback: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,011 mm
Width1,775 mm
Height1,578 mm
Wheelbase2,570 mm
Luggage260–1,100 L
Fuel tank9 REx
Seats4
Doors5-door hatchback
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-door Hatchback | I01 | 2013–2022 | 5-door hatchback / 4 | 4,011 mm | 260–1,100 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented 5-door hatchback applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| i3 60 Ah | 2013–2016 | BMW eDrive · 18.8 kWh usable battery | 170 hp | single-speed | RWD | Global range | BMW i3 market launch |
| i3 60 Ah Range Extender | 2013–2016 | BMW eDrive + 647 cc two-cylinder generator | 170 hp traction motor | single-speed | RWD | Global range | BMW i3 market launch |
| i3 94 Ah | 2016–2018 | BMW eDrive · 33.2 kWh gross battery | 170 hp | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s |
| i3 94 Ah Range Extender | 2016–2018 | BMW eDrive + 647 cc two-cylinder generator | 170 hp traction motor | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s |
| i3s 94 Ah | 2017–2018 | BMW eDrive · 33.2 kWh gross battery | 184 hp | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s |
| i3s 94 Ah Range Extender | 2017–2018 | BMW eDrive + 647 cc two-cylinder generator | 184 hp traction motor | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The new BMW i3 and the new BMW i3s |
| i3 120 Ah | 2018–2022 | BMW eDrive · 42.2 kWh gross battery | 170 hp | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The BMW i3 (120 Ah) and BMW i3s (120 Ah) |
| i3s 120 Ah | 2018–2022 | BMW eDrive · 42.2 kWh gross battery | 184 hp | single-speed | RWD | Global range | The BMW i3 (120 Ah) and BMW i3s (120 Ah) |
| i3 / i3s 120 Ah Range Extender | 2019–2021 | BMW eDrive + 647 cc two-cylinder generator | 170 / 184 hp traction motor | single-speed | RWD | North America | The new 2019 BMW i3 120 Ah and i3s 120 Ah |
Factory designations
i3 60 Ah · i3 94 Ah · i3 120 Ah · i3 REx · i3s
Electric drive
Traction motors, battery and charging hardware are derivative-, market- and production-date-specific.
High-voltage battery
Usable capacity, cell chemistry and charge rate can change during the lifecycle and must follow factory specifications.
Drive variants
Single- and dual-motor layouts, system output and range are recorded as separate factory derivatives.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW i · electric / PHEV. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- I01: 4,011 mm × 1,775 mm × 1,578 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
Electric series production
Leipzig launched the 60 Ah i3 and the optional Range Extender branch.
94 Ah battery
Higher-capacity cells increased usable energy and certified range.
i3s and 120 Ah
The sport chassis derivative arrived, followed by the final major battery upgrade.
Production ends
BMW closed the Leipzig line after more than 250,000 i3 vehicles.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
5-door Hatchback
I01i3 I01 is a distinct I01 body branch. A compact five-door body designed around everyday access, a folding rear seat and a short overall footprint. Engines/drive: Gen1/Gen2 BMW eDrive, 647 cc range-extender twin.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- I01 — 5-door Hatchback
- Range designations
- i3 60 Ah, i3 94 Ah, i3 120 Ah, i3 REx, i3s
- Powertrain families
- Gen1/Gen2 BMW eDrive, 647 cc range-extender twin
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW i3Wikipedia contributors
Secondary development, battery, REx and model-history overview.
- 02BMW i3 market launchBMW Group PressClub
Factory confirmation of the November 2013 customer launch.
- 03Production of the BMW i3 comes to a closeBMW Group PressClub
Factory production-end date, Leipzig scope and total exceeding 250,000 cars.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- 60 Ah, 94 Ah and 120 Ah values must use usable/gross energy, test cycle and market fields rather than ampere-hours alone.
- REx is a series-hybrid support system and never mechanically drives the wheels.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
3 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: Dinkun Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026