BMW originally intended to be a model i3 offered only with an electric motor that develops 170 hp and 250 Nm of torque. In this version, the lithium-ion batteries will enable the range to 160 km on a single charge. Later it was decided that the BMW i3 gets a version with extra gasoline engine, which will be used as a generator of electricity when the batteries are empty.
Using two cylinder engine it is expected that the range on one battery charge increased to about 400 km.

According to Herbert Diesse, the i3 version with extended radius will be available end of 2013. , together with all-electric variant of this car.