BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), is a leading global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Germany. BMW is well known for its portfolio of luxury vehicles, to include the famed Rolls-Royce luxury cars. The group manufacturers a number of cars under its BMW brand, to include battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).
The BMW i3 EV is an excellent example of a successful pure electric car. The company currently has the following portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
The BMW 7 Series, a luxury saloon, has been manufactured since 1977. The vehicle is currently on its sixth generation. The BMW 7 Series is also available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). When it comes to ultra-luxury saloon pure electric cars, the options are limited to the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Porsche electric cars.
For both families and company-car drivers keen on an environmentally-friendly luxury all-electric car, the BMW i7 is worth consideration. Of course, for owners of the conventional BMW 7 series internal combustion engine (ICE) car, the BMW i7 is a natural evolution.
The BMW i7 premium saloon car is available in one EV battery size: 105.7 kWh, and has a claimed pure electric range up to 387 miles. The EV battery size and zero-emission electric range is similar to many of the more recent introductions of pure electric cars i.e. there is a trend of increasing EV battery size and longer zero-emission electric range.
Of course, the real-world EV range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: speed, driving profile, regen braking profile, weather conditions, road conditions, tyre size, onboard services used, payload and more. Expect a real-world electric range closer to 330 miles. Still very impressive and certainly class-leading.
As is the case with electric cars, the BMW i7 has an onboard recuperation system that converts the kinetic energy during braking into electricity, further enhancing the efficiency of the electric vehicle and e-range. This is also known as regenerative braking. It does take some getting used to, but not long!
We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to charging an electric car. This way, there is always range readily available and moreover, a topping up approach reduces the amount of time required to charge. Regular charging is also beneficial for the long-term maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles, which is fast becoming the industry standard for EVs.
The electric vehicle (EV) can be DC charged up to 195 kW and can achieve a 0%-80% in 34 minutes (6 mins = 62 miles). All variants incorporate a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, which can fully charge the EV in 10 hours and 30 minutes. However, given that most homes in the UK are restricted to single-phase (7.4 kW) power supply, expect the EV to take longer to charge. At 7.4 kW the EV can achieve a range of 62 miles in 2.27 hours.
The all-wheel drive BMW i7 xDrive60 electric saloon can achieve 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. The electric vehicle delivers a maximum power up to 544 hp and 745 Nm torque. The top speed of the EV is 149 mph. The EV offers up to 500 L boot space.
Interior quality, level of technology and equipment is in line with the premium price tag, to include: 14.9″ cured display (optional 31.3″ BMW theatre screen) etc. In terms of practicality, the BMW saloon offers ample headroom and legroom for passengers. The EV offers a 500 L boot.
The EV is suitable for both families and company-car drivers. Company-car drivers can take advantage of the low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-2%) tax rate for the electric car. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
The All-Electric BMW i7 Saloon (credit: BMW)
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