My BMW i3 -- Range Extender Maintenance

The Range Extender is really a motor scooter engine that runs a generator to add charge to the battery.  Of course, it also generates emissions when running, so most of us would like to avoid using it.  However, it needs to run occasionally to maintain operation and to burn some of the premium fuel before it deteriorates.  Kymco in Taiwan supplies the engine, shown below:



BMW has provided a way for this maintenance, an automatic cycling if the engine has not been run in the last seven or eight weeks.  You are notified that this is happening on your display, and it takes about ten minutes to complete.  If my drive is shorter than ten minutes, my experience is that the cycle was repeated.

While cycling the engine, the BMW i3 still runs from the battery.  Here is what I received from BMW's concierge:

To ensure the functional reliability of the range extender, even during long periods of non-use, the range extender is automatically activated for approximately 10-15 minutes. This occurs approximately every 7 weeks. The vehicle will notify you when it will run maintenance on the range extender. Please note that a maintenance run is not possible if the battery is above approximately 75% or if there is too little fuel in the tank.

Even though this detracts from the zero-emission operation of the BMW i3, it is important to make sure the engine is exercised and some of the fuel is burned.