BMW I3 22 kWh charging cable

The BMW i3 was among the first purpose-built electric cars from a major manufacturer: a carbon-fibre city car with rear-wheel drive, recycled interior materials, and a design language that still stands apart today. The earliest 60 Ah generation, produced from 2013 to around 2016, carries a 22 kWh battery with 18.8 kWh of usable capacity. The range is modest by modern standards, but the i3 was designed as a short-range urban car and most owners rarely drain a full charge in a day's driving. The onboard charger is rated at 7.4 kW single-phase, and the CCS charging port sits on the right rear quarter panel.

Choosing the correct charging cable for the BMW i3 22 kWh

A 22 kW Voldt® Type 2 charging cable is the right choice for the 22 kWh i3 in the UK. That might seem oversized for a small-battery car, but the reason is straightforward: the i3's charger draws 32A on a single phase to reach its full 7.4 kW rate. A 22 kW cable is rated at 32A and delivers that in full. An 11 kW cable, rated at only 16A, would restrict the car to 3.7 kW: half the speed, doubling your charge time for no reason.

Most UK homes run on single-phase power, so a typical wallbox delivers either 3.7 kW (at 16A) or 7.4 kW (at 32A) depending on the installation. With a 32A wallbox and the right cable, the i3's compact 18.8 kWh battery charges from near-empty in approximately three hours: a lunchtime plug-in that gives you a full car by mid-afternoon. With a 16A wallbox or cable, that stretches to around five hours, still manageable but a needless slowdown on a car that can do better.

The i3 is a compact car, so reaching the right-rear port from most chargepoints is rarely a problem. A 6-metre cable covers any home installation comfortably. An 8-metre cable is the most practical all-round choice for home and public charging. A 10-metre cable adds reach for awkward post positions. A 15-metre cable handles hotel car parks and wider bays, though for a car this size it is seldom necessary.

Portable charging away from home

Voldt® portable EV chargers let you charge from the socket types you will encounter across the UK and on the continent. A three-phase 32A red CEE portable charger delivers 7.4 kW to the i3: the car draws its single-phase maximum from one phase of the three-phase supply, charging the 18.8 kWh battery in approximately three hours. Blue single-phase 16A CEE sockets at campsites and holiday parks provide 3.7 kW, which still fills this compact battery in around five hours: a comfortable overnight charge for a car this size. Where only a standard three-pin socket is available, the portable charger delivers up to 2.8 kW, within the limits of what your wiring can sustain. A built-in thermal sensor monitors the connection temperature throughout and adjusts the current automatically, keeping every session safe without anything to manage on your end. At 2.8 kW, the battery fills in around seven hours, still workable for an overnight stop with a battery this compact.

Built for long-term reliability

Voldt® charging cables are CE, UKCA and TÜV certified and built to 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.