BMW i3 33 kWh charging cable

The BMW i3 94 Ah and 120 Ah generations are the ones that turned the i3 from an urban experiment into a genuinely usable everyday car. The same carbon-fibre body, rear-wheel drive, and unconventional cabin, but with enough range that the battery stopped being the first thing on your mind every morning. The 94 Ah (33 kWh, 27.2 kWh usable) was produced from 2016 to 2018, and the 120 Ah (42 kWh, 37.9 kWh usable) from 2018 until the end of production in 2022. The charger setup differs between them: most 94 Ah models come with a 7.4 kW single-phase onboard charger, though some were factory-fitted with an optional 11 kW three-phase unit. All 120 Ah models have 11 kW three-phase as standard. The CCS charging port sits on the right rear quarter panel across both generations.

Choosing the correct charging cable for the BMW i3 33 kWh / 42 kWh

A 22 kW Voldt® Type 2 charging cable is the right choice for both generations in the UK, and the reason comes down to amperage. Most UK homes run on single-phase power, so a wallbox delivers either 3.7 kW (at 16A) or 7.4 kW (at 32A) depending on the installation. A 22 kW cable is rated at 32A and delivers the full 7.4 kW. An 11 kW cable, rated at only 16A, would cap home charging at 3.7 kW: half the speed regardless of which i3 you own.

This matters particularly for 94 Ah owners whose car has the standard 7.4 kW single-phase charger: a 32A cable is the only way to get full speed from any wallbox or public charger. For 120 Ah owners with the 11 kW three-phase charger, home speed on a UK single-phase supply is 7.4 kW either way, but the 22 kW cable ensures no bottleneck at public three-phase chargers where the car can draw its full 11 kW.

At 7.4 kW, the 33 kWh battery charges from near-empty in around four hours and the 42 kWh in around five: either way, a comfortable evening-to-morning session. At a public 11 kW three-phase charger, 120 Ah owners can expect around three and a half hours.

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 is the most versatile option for both generations. It delivers 7.4 kW to 94 Ah models with the standard single-phase charger, and 11 kW to 120 Ah models (and optioned 94 Ah cars), each drawing the car's maximum from the three-phase supply. At 7.4 kW, the 33 kWh battery fills in around four hours and the 42 kWh in around five. At 11 kW, those times drop to roughly two and a half and three and a half hours respectively.

Blue single-phase 16A CEE sockets at campsites and holiday parks provide 3.7 kW: around seven to eight hours for the 33 kWh battery, around ten for the 42 kWh. Still manageable overnight 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 33 kWh battery fills in around ten hours and the 42 kWh in around thirteen: workable for a long overnight stop but best treated as a backup option.

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.