BMW i3 REx Hack Delivers Additional Miles And AM Radio Support

The BMW i3 REx is in a rather unique position, as it has just been revealed that this particular car is vulnerable to a hack – although this particular hack can be said to be beneficial to it, and as a result of the hack, the BMW i3 REx itself will be able to deliver additional miles on the road, alongside support for AM radio. Needless to say, such a hack would no doubt place your warranty at risk, which is a standard consequence for tinkering around in an unwanted manner

The hack itself is a low-level one, where the BMW i3 REx has been classified as a zero-emissions vehicle due to the rules from the California Air Resources Board. The reason behind such a categorization is due to the fact that the miles clocked up by the gas-powered range extender are more or less similar to the single-charge range of the vehicle’s battery, and some folks have managed to tweak the software in a way that enhances its capabilities.

In other words, one can now pump in 2.4 gallons of gas rather that 1.9 gallons prior to the hack, which will translate to approximately 20 more miles of driving range. Not only that, the i3 REx’s software has long ensured the suppression of AM radio due to potential electromagnetic interference from the electric drivetrain, but this low-level hack is capable of reversing such an effect.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Green, Transportation
Tags: bmw, Hacking