BMW i3 42 kWh charging cable

By the time BMW introduced the 120 Ah battery in 2018, the i3 had already proved its point. Nine years of production, a quarter of a million units, and a genuinely original approach to how a city car could be built: carbon fibre body structure, recycled materials throughout the cabin, rear-wheel drive from a single rear-mounted motor. The 42 kWh generation, sold from 2018 until the end of production in 2022, is the version that completed that arc most convincingly. With 37.9 kWh of usable capacity and a WLTP range of around 190 miles, it turned the i3 from a car that required range anxiety management into one that simply gets used. The 11 kW three-phase onboard AC charger is standard on European 120 Ah models, and it is the detail that makes day-to-day life with this car genuinely easy. On a three-phase 11 kW supply, the 37.9 kWh battery charges fully from near-empty in approximately four hours and fifteen minutes, which means plugging in after lunch and having a full car by early evening, or plugging in overnight and waking up to range you are unlikely to exhaust in a normal day. On a single-phase 7.4 kW supply, a common limitation at older home installations and some public posts, that stretches to around six to seven hours, still workable overnight but worth bearing in mind if you rely on a single-phase wall box. DC rapid charging at 50 kW, standard across all 120 Ah cars, brings the battery to 80% in under 45 minutes at a compatible CCS post. The charging port occupies the right rear quarter panel, consistent with every i3 built across all three battery generations.

Charging cable for the BMW i3 42 kWh

An 11 kW Voldt® Type 2 charging cable is the standard choice for the 120 Ah i3 on any three-phase supply. However, if you frequently charge on single-phase 7.4 kW power sources, a 22 kW Type 2 cable is a smarter choice. While an 11 kW cable is limited to 16A per phase (restricting single-phase charging to 3.7 kW), a 22 kW cable supports up to 32A, allowing the car to draw its full 7.4 kW rate from single-phase wallboxes and public posts. A 22 kW cable is worth specifying if you share the cable with another vehicle or want the flexibility to use it on newer, higher-capacity cars in the future.

The right-rear port position suits forward-entry bays naturally, though the i3's compact footprint means it fits comfortably in almost any layout. Cable length is a smaller concern here than on larger EVs, but choosing well means one less thing to think about on every charge. A 6-metre cable handles most home setups where the wall box is mounted close to the parking space. An 8-metre cable is the most practical all-round choice, removing any uncertainty about reach at home and handling the majority of public post positions without having to reposition the car. A 10-metre cable is the right choice where the charge point is set back from the bay, or where the geometry of a parking space leaves the port side facing away from the pillar. A 15-metre cable handles hotel car parks, wide bays, long driveways, and any charging situation where distance or awkward post placement would otherwise be a problem.

Portable charging for the BMW i3 42 kWh

The Voldt® portable CEE charging cable connects to industrial sockets and is available up to 22 kW via three-phase CEE. For the 120 Ah i3, a 16A three-phase CEE socket delivers 11 kW and fills the 37.9 kWh battery fully in around four and a quarter hours: a comfortable fit for an overnight stop at any campsite or marina with a three-phase supply, and well within the window if you arrive in the evening and leave after breakfast. A 32A three-phase CEE socket, where available, delivers the same 11 kW, as the onboard charger is the limiting factor rather than the socket output. The Schuko portable charger delivers up to 3.7 kW from a standard household socket. At that rate the 37.9 kWh battery takes around eleven hours from near-empty, which is slow but achievable on a long overnight stop, and gives enough range for a full day of city use if you only have a partial top-up available.

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.