By Deji Osas
A Chinese company is offering an innovative solution to breathe new life into the aging BMW i3 by selling upgraded battery modules that promise to significantly boost its range. Martigi Manufacturing (MTG), the company behind the upgrade, claims that its energy-dense battery pack can double the driving range of the i3’s original battery, making it an appealing option for owners of the older model.
The BMW i3, which debuted in 2013, was a trailblazer in electric vehicles, but its range has always been considered on the lower end by today’s standards. The early version of the i3 came equipped with an 18.2 kWh battery, providing a modest 81-mile range. Later updates increased the battery capacity to 94 Ah (114 miles) and eventually to 120 Ah (153 miles), offering a significant improvement.
However, the earliest i3 models—equipped with the smaller 60 Ah pack—have seen their ranges diminish over time due to battery degradation. For owners of these early models, the range can now be as low as 70 miles on a full charge, which makes the vehicle a less viable option for longer trips, despite its suitability for urban driving.
Enter Martigi Manufacturing (MTG), which has developed a battery pack specifically for the BMW i3 that promises to double the driving range of the 60 Ah version. This new pack is designed to be compatible with all versions of the i3, including those with the larger, factory-installed battery. It features high-density Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) cells, sourced from China’s CATL, that are built to fit within the same compartment as the original battery cells. While the new pack retains the same voltage and configuration as the old one, it offers a significant increase in energy capacity.
The upgraded battery pack consists of 96 cells arranged in eight modules, delivering 154 Ah or 54 kWh, which is a 156% increase in capacity compared to the original 60 Ah pack. It’s also 28% larger than the largest battery available from BMW, giving the i3 a new lease on life.
MTG works with Echi Tech to provide a reflashed battery management system, new electrical connectors, and all the hardware needed for the battery swap, though they recommend that the installation be carried out by a professional service provider. The pack is designed for home installation, but proper expertise is essential.
The new battery pack promises to deliver an impressive driving range of 248 miles on a full charge, although a demonstration video from MTG shows an i3 fitted with the upgraded battery completing 186 miles on the highway at a constant speed of 62 miles per hour. Charging is similar to the original battery, supporting up to 50 kW from a DC fast charger.
For those interested in upgrading, the 154 Ah pack is priced at $5,800, excluding shipping, while a 120 Ah version (compatible as a direct replacement for the original 120 Ah pack) is available for $4,800. The new modules come with a three-year warranty and are rated for 2,000 charge cycles. While the warranty is a key selling point, whether it applies in the U.S. remains uncertain.
In comparison, an OEM BMW pack costs around $15,000 without installation, making this upgrade from MTG a potentially more cost-effective option—even when factoring in shipping fees.
This battery upgrade presents a promising opportunity for BMW i3 owners looking to extend the lifespan of their electric vehicle, particularly those with older models whose batteries are no longer holding up.
