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 iX1 is the latest electric vehicle (EV) to join the portfolio of pure electric SUVs offered by BMW. Like the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) X1, the iX1 offers a more affordable entry into the world of BMW premium SUVs. Prices commence at £51,350, with the EV expected to go on sale in November 2022.
So far, the technical information released by the automotive manufacturer is limited, but we expect more information to become available closer to the time of sale. The EV offers all-wheel drive (AWD) as standard, with dual motors, one motor at the front axle and the other at the rear.
The BMW iX1 family SUV is available in one EV battery size: 64.7 kWh (usable capacity), with a claimed pure electric range up to 272 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 230 miles. Useful for both short city commutes and longer motorway journeys!
As is the case with electric cars, the BMW iX1 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 130 kW and can achieve a 0%-80% in 29 minutes. The e-SUV incorporate a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, which can fully charge the EV in 5 hours. There is also an option to upgrade to a 22 kW (3-phase) onboard charger.
However, given that most homes in the UK are restricted to single-phase power supply, it would not be necessary to upgrade to 22 kW. BMW has yet to give details for single-phase charging, but of course it will take longer compared to 3-phase EV charging.
The BMW iX1 electric SUV can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds. The vehicle delivers a maximum power up to 313 hp and 494 Nm torque. The top speed of the e-SUV is 112 mph. Like other pure electric cars, the BMW iX1 also benefits from instant torque.
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 for the wallet. The EV can be reserved online on the BMW website.
You can lease electric vehicles at very competitive prices via e-zoomed!
The All-Electric BMW iX1 SUV (credit: BMW)
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