Tim Lucas, MD (B2B and Transport) at Fleet News' parent company Bauer Media, has a BMW i3 on test this week. Here's day one, from a driver's point of view.

I’ll confess to some significant apprehensions about my week long test of the BMW i3. Anxiety over recharging the vehicle, its range and the driving experience were on my mind as I began the handover process.

The handover was straightforward enough. It took about 20 minutes and might have been longer but it was only 1.5 degrees in the car park so I was grateful that the process was relatively simple. We talked through the controls and opened up the charging kits and both boots to cover off the basics like refuelling, recharging, windscreen wash and the like. The controls are clear and appear to offer a relatively hassle free driving experience.

My recharging anxiety has dissipated – the vehicle comes with two recharging kits, one for public recharging points and the other a three pin socket for home use. Both work and home seem simple to use. The home kit has a 3 metre length which is plenty for my needs.

The interior looks smart, the seats comfortable and the controls seem visible and within reach. Sensors surround the vehicle and a nice touch is the Active Driving Assistance system which brings you to a dead stop if it detects an obstacle or pedestrian too close to the vehicle when at low speed. 

My first drive is the journey home this evening. 82 miles from Peterborough to Sudbury in Suffolk. A14 for most of the way with 30 minutes of rural driving to finish the journey. I’ll let you know how it goes.

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