Official vehicle configuration guide

2021 BMW i3

Compare 4 EPA-tested configurations, including the exact powertrain, fuel, driven wheels, engine, transmission and efficiency data available for this model year.

U.S. market 4 EPA configurations ElectricPlug-in hybrid
Official EPA configuration data

Choose the closest tested configuration.

These entries distinguish powertrains and driveline combinations recorded by the U.S. EPA. They help narrow the vehicle, but they are not guaranteed retail trim or option-package names.

4 configurations
Match the fuel type, drive and transmission shown on the vehicle documents. A dealer package may use a different name.
Selected configurationi3 — Electric · RWD · 113 MPGe
Electric
Fuel
Electricity
Engine
Not listed
Drive
RWD
Transmission
Automatic (A1)
EPA combined
113 MPGe combined
City / highway
124 / 102 MPGe
Electric motor
125 kW AC Induction
Range
153 mi
240 V charge time
7 hours
Secondary / blended economy
Not listed
EPA vehicle class
Subcompact Cars
Stop-start system
No
Open this configuration on FuelEconomy.gov ↗

i3 — Electric · RWD · 113 MPGe selected.

Configuration is not the same as trim. EPA records can separate engines, fuel systems, transmissions or driven wheels without identifying badges such as LX, XLE or Touring. Confirm the retail trim with the window sticker, build sheet or manufacturer VIN portal.

Compare every tested configuration

Mechanical and efficiency differences.

All rows are visible in the page and link to their exact government record. EPA configurations identify tested hardware, not guaranteed retail trim names.

4 official records
Best combined MPG31 MPG

i3 with Range Extender — Plug-in hybrid · RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · 31 MPG

Best combined MPGe113 MPGe

i3 — Electric · RWD · 113 MPGe

Longest listed range200 mi

i3 with Range Extender — Plug-in hybrid · RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · 31 MPG

View all 4 EPA configuration rows
EPA carlinePowertrainEngine / motorDriveTransmissionCombinedRange / chargeSource
i3 — Electric · RWD · 113 MPGeElectricElectricity125 kW AC InductionRWDAutomatic (A1)113 MPGe124 city / 102 highway153 mi7 h at 240 VEPA record ↗
i3 with Range Extender — Plug-in hybrid · RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · 31 MPGPlug-in hybridPremium Gas or ElectricityPHEVRWDAutomatic (A1)31 MPG30 city / 31 highway126 mi EV / 200 mi total7 h at 240 VEPA record ↗
i3s — Electric · RWD · 113 MPGeElectricElectricity135 kW AC InductionRWDAutomatic (A1)113 MPGe124 city / 102 highway153 mi7 h at 240 VEPA record ↗
i3s with Range Extender — Plug-in hybrid · RWD · 0.6L 2-cyl · 31 MPGPlug-in hybridPremium Gas or ElectricityPHEVRWDAutomatic (A1)31 MPG30 city / 31 highway126 mi EV / 200 mi total7 h at 240 VEPA record ↗
At a glance

What the official records cover.

Each option above is tied to a unique FuelEconomy.gov vehicle ID. EPA names sometimes expose a retail badge such as LE or Woodland Edition, but many records identify only the tested mechanical configuration.

01Official carlines

i3, i3 with Range Extender, i3s, i3s with Range Extender

02Powertrains

Electric, Plug-in hybrid

03Driven wheels

RWD

04Engine / motor options

125 kW AC Induction, 0.6L 2-cyl, 135 kW AC Induction

How to identify yours

Match the hardware before the badge.

  1. 1

    Start with fuel and powertrain. Check whether the vehicle is gasoline, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, electric or fuel-cell.

  2. 2

    Match driven wheels and engine. Use FWD, RWD, AWD or 4WD plus displacement/cylinder information from the window sticker or registration.

  3. 3

    Confirm the exact EPA record. Select the closest option and open its FuelEconomy.gov link. Use a VIN-specific build sheet when you need the retail trim or option package.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset ↗ · U.S. market snapshot 2026-11-04. Economy values are official estimates, not a promise of real-world consumption.

02 Feature research status

The configuration guide is live.

The official mechanical and efficiency data for this exact vehicle is published above. Hidden-feature instructions are a separate layer: they appear only after the correct owner manual, model-year scope and equipment caveats have been checked.

EPA configurations publishedOfficial records linkedOwner-manual features in review
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