BMW i3 covers nearly 6,000 kilometres with less than three hours of charging
BMW’s new electric i3 50 xDrive has set a European long-distance driving record, covering 5,886.7 kilometres from Norway to Spain with just 2 hours and 46 minutes spent charging over the entire journey. Even more notable was the all-wheel-drive saloon’s average energy consumption of just 12.5 kWh/100 km. BMW beat the previous record, set in 2017, by more than seven hours.
Eight countries and nearly 5,900 kilometres
The i3 50 xDrive completed the Paneuropeana long-distance test, starting at Norway’s North Cape and finishing in the Spanish town of Tarifa.
The route crossed eight countries and included motorways, main roads and urban traffic. One BMW engineer drove the car throughout the challenge, observing the applicable speed limits.
Driving time was 3 days, 2 hours and 41 minutes, with an average speed of 79.7 km/h. Charging took exactly 2 hours, 45 minutes and 54 seconds. BMW used only public charging stations, with charging power averaging 275 kW. The test car’s hardware and software matched the production model’s specifications.
A 108.7 kWh battery and exceptional efficiency
The BMW i3 50 xDrive uses the Neue Klasse platform and sixth-generation eDrive technology.
The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system develops 345 kW and accelerates the saloon to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Top speed is 200 km/h.
The 108.7 kWh battery provides a WLTP range of up to 912 km. Thanks to its 800-volt electrical architecture, maximum charging power reaches 400 kW. In ideal conditions, up to 423 km of range can be added in ten minutes. Average energy consumption of 12.5 kWh/100 km during the record attempt was even below the model’s official WLTP consumption range of 13.4–18.0 kWh/100 km.
A low drag coefficient of 0.21, tyres with lower rolling resistance and improved electric motors with up to 40% lower energy losses than their predecessors all contribute to efficiency.
BMW sets a new benchmark for rivals
The Paneuropeana record is not a conventional speed contest. The aim is to complete a set route with the lowest possible total charging time.
The result therefore depends on three factors: energy consumption, the battery’s charging capability and the planning of charging stops.
BMW’s achievement shows that an efficient electric car can cross Europe from end to end without lengthy charging breaks. However, the 2-hour, 46-minute result does not include driving to charging stations, parking or any other possible stops.
In the European market, the new i3 primarily competes with the Tesla Model 3, Mercedes-Benz CLA and forthcoming electric Audi A4. BMW’s strength lies in combining long range and exceptionally fast charging with sporty all-wheel drive.
The record’s real significance is not the nearly 6,000 kilometres covered, but the proportion of time spent charging. BMW spent an average of less than three minutes charging for every 100 kilometres. Such a result significantly changes the existing comparison between electric cars and combustion-engined cars on long-distance journeys.
In everyday use, however, the result still depends on the weather, driving speed and charger availability.
