BMW’s new i3 just drove 753 miles on a single charge

This one is about a car, not your house, but it's worth a quick note since home charging and EVs often come up together for homeowners planning upgrades. BMW tested a new long-wheelbase version of its i3 electric sedan, built for the Chinese market, and drove it 753 miles (1,213 km) on a single charge. That is the longest distance BMW has gotten out of any of its electric vehicles so far. The car used a new "Gen6" battery with cylindrical cells that BMW says are more than 20% more energy-dense than the previous generation, which also means faster charging.

The test car has a 113.4 kWh battery, more than double what you'd find in most home electric vehicles sold in the US. On a fast charger with the car's 800-volt system, it can add about 248 miles of range in 10 minutes. This particular long-wheelbase i3 is built for China and isn't the version sold in the US. The US version of the 2027 BMW i3, on sale now starting at $61,500, offers up to 468 miles of range, and a related model, the iX3, starts at the same price with up to 434 miles of range.

None of this changes anything about home energy upgrades or rebates. If you're thinking about adding a home EV charger as part of a broader electrification plan, the main things to know are your own vehicle's battery size and charging speed, which this new BMW model does not affect unless you're specifically shopping for one.