Re:US transportation bill would add a $130 annual fee for EV...
by watersb on Wednesday May 20, 2026 @09:18PM
(#48216590)
BMW i3 (2014-2021 version)
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Wagon-wheel tires, 155mm wide.
My 2020 one includes the scooter motor generator, a petrol "range extender", and weighs a bit more, slightly less than 3,000 pounds.
Skinny tires and I can go a mix of highway and city driving and get 5.1 miles per kWh.
But the tires are expensive and don't last.
Re:US transportation bill would add a $130 annual fee for EV...
by DANmode on Wednesday May 20, 2026 @10:05PM
(#48216940)
Dude, that’s an even cooler Chevy Volt!
I could understand shying away from admitting you drive a Smart car - this is just neat.
Re:US transportation bill would add a $130 annual fee for EV...
by watersb on Thursday May 21, 2026 @07:13PM
(#48229937)
Both the Chevy Volt (as in Volta, not Bolt as in... bolt) and the BMW i3 with the Range Extender are "series" hybrids: the petrol engine has no mechanical connection to the wheels. It only charges the battery.
In the past six months, we've seen official recognition of this setup as a distinct form of car, "eREV".
Some recent models from China mean that in some markets, you can buy a new series hybrid.
But I'm a series hybrid hipster.
If yes, RWD vs AWD is your answer, combined with wider rear tires.