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 company currently has the following portfolio of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):
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 available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
When it comes to ultra-luxury saloon plug-in electric cars, few can compete with the Mercedes S-Class PHEV, except if the competitor is BMW! The 745e PHEV is a good alternative to the S-Class PHEV, albeit with a slightly lower price tag.
No doubt, the introduction of the 7 Series plug-in hybrid variant has been a good move by the German automotive group, making the EV attractive for both private and company-car owners, given the reduced tailpipe emissions (48 CO2/km) and the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-12%) tax rate for the PHEV.
However, given the upmarket price for the 7 Series PHEV, the size of the onboard EV battery (11.15 kWh), onboard charger (3.7 kW) and emission-free electric range (32 miles) is disappointing.
Yes, it is true that the average distance travelled per day in the UK is a mere 30 miles, and even given that the real-world electric range of the BMW 745e PHEV (closer to 25 miles), is sufficient for most shorter urban trips, a larger EV battery could be leveraged for motorway driving, to further enhance the fuel economy of the vehicle.
BMW claims a fuel economy up to 141.2 mpg, but to achieve this, the EV has to be driven sufficiently on EV mode. It is worth noting that the latest plug-in electric cars have far more efficient engines. Moreover, by driving the BMW electric car on EV mode, the driving cost per mile is reduced significantly. The driving costs per mile for an EV is between 5 pence and 10 pence per mile, significantly cheaper than using the internal combustion engine (ICE).
For the BMW premium-badge, a 7.4 kW onboard charger should have come as standard with the EV. However, given the smaller EV battery size, the 3.7 kW onboard charger will suffice, though, will take longer to charge the electric vehicle (up to 3.5 hours).
The EV can be charged using a domestic 3-PIN socket, however, we at e-zoomed encourage charging via a dedicated home EV charging point, like Easee. The EV does not offer fast DC charging.
In any case, the plug-in electric car can be charged overnight at home, and we recommend EV drivers to develop a habit of ‘topping up’ the EV battery charge on a regular basis. This way, the EV can be driven as much as possible on the electric mode and also better for the overall health and maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles warranty.
The rear-wheel drive (RWD) plug-in electric saloon pairs the BMW 83 kW (eDrive electric drive technology), with a 3.0-litre (six-cylinder) petrol engine. Despite the additional weight of the EV battery, the EV can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds (maximum power: 394 hp). Top speed in EV mode is 86 mph and using the combustion engine, the top speed is 155 mph.
In terms of practicality, the boot space is slightly impacted by the placement of the EV battery and offers 420 L cargo volume. However, there is the usual excellent headroom and legroom for passengers. The interior is top-quality and is technology-laden.
Executive Nappa leather upholstery comes as standard, ambient lighting, BMW intelligent personal assistant, remote software updates, driving assistant professional, steering and lane control assistant, and a lot more.
The PHEV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). 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 BMW 745e Plug-In Hybrid Saloon (credit: BMW)
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