BMW i3 charging cable

The BMW i3 ran from 2013 to 2022, a nine-year production run that began when most manufacturers were still treating electric cars as a regulatory obligation and ended with a car that had quietly become one of the most distinctive urban EVs ever built. The carbon-fibre body structure, the rear-wheel drive, the coach-door rear entry, the recycled materials inside: none of it was accidental, and none of it has aged in the way conventional cars tend to. What changed across its lifetime was the battery, three times over, and that is the detail that matters most when choosing a charging cable.

The original 60 Ah cars (2013–2016) carry a 22 kWh gross battery with roughly 18.8 kWh usable and a 7.4 kW single-phase onboard AC charger, filling from near-empty in three to four hours. The 94 Ah generation (2016–2018) stepped up to 33.2 kWh gross with 27.2 kWh usable, and European-spec cars with the Type 2 CCS port gained an 11 kW three-phase onboard charger as standard, bringing full-charge time to around three hours on a three-phase supply, or four and a half hours on single-phase 7.4 kW. The final 120 Ah cars (2018–2022) carry 42.2 kWh gross with 37.9 kWh usable, the same 11 kW three-phase charger, and a full charge time of around four hours fifteen minutes on a three-phase supply. DC rapid charging at up to 50 kW via CCS is standard across the 94 Ah and 120 Ah generations, and optional on some 60 Ah cars. The charging port sits on the right rear quarter panel on every i3 ever made.

Finding the right charging cable for your BMW i3

All BMW i3 models use a Type 2 connector for AC charging, so a Voldt® Type 2 charging cable is the correct choice across every generation. The right rating depends on which battery your car has.

For the 60 Ah / 22 kWh i3, the onboard charger is limited to 7.4 kW single-phase. A Voldt® 7.4 kW or 22 kW cable is the correct choice to achieve the full rate. A standard 11 kW cable will restrict charging to 3.7 kW due to its 16A limit, but is worth considering if you plan to upgrade your vehicle later.

For the 94 Ah / 33 kWh and 120 Ah / 42 kWh generations, the onboard charger supports 11 kW on a three-phase supply. A Voldt® 11 kW cable is the right specification for these cars, making full use of the charger on any three-phase post or wallbox. A 22 kW cable works equally well at 11 kW and is a smarter choice if you frequently charge on single-phase 7.4 kW sources, as it supports up to 32A (unlike the 16A limit of an 11 kW cable), allowing the car to draw its full single-phase rate from domestic setups.

The right-rear port position means reversing into a bay puts the connector closest to the charge point on all versions. The i3 is a compact car, which helps with parking, but cable length still matters more than many owners expect, particularly at public posts where the pillar is not always where you would have placed it. A 6-metre cable handles most home installations comfortably. An 8-metre cable is the most practical all-round choice, covering both home and the majority of public charging situations without repositioning the car. A 10-metre cable gives meaningful extra reach at posts set back from the bay, or where the port side ends up facing away from the pillar. A 15-metre cable handles hotel car parks, long driveways, wider bays, and any charging situation where distance or layout would otherwise be a problem.

Portable charging for the BMW i3

The Voldt® portable CEE charging cable is available in models up to 22 kW via three-phase CEE. For the 60 Ah car, a 32A single-phase blue CEE socket delivers the full 7.4 kW, charging the 18.8 kWh battery fully in just over two and a half hours. For the 94 Ah and 120 Ah cars, a 32A three-phase red CEE socket delivers the full 11 kW, filling the 27.2 kWh battery in around three hours and the 37.9 kWh battery in around four and a quarter hours respectively. Campsites and marinas across Europe typically provide blue single-phase 16A CEE sockets, which cap out at 3.7 kW: workable for the smaller batteries overnight, and still useful for adding range on the 120 Ah if you have time on your side. Where only a standard household socket is available, the Schuko portable charger delivers a safe 2.3 kW, sufficient for a meaningful top-up on any generation during an extended stay.

Built for long-term reliability

Voldt® charging cables are CE, UKCA and TÜV certified and manufactured according to IATF 16949 automotive quality standards. Single-piece moulded connectors, no glue or screws. IP67-rated for operation between −30°C and +50°C. 100% copper conductors with silver-plated contacts. Tested beyond 10,000 connection cycles. Three-year warranty, 100-day returns, free shipping across Europe.