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 iX3 electric SUV is an evolution of the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) BMW X3 SUV. Put another way, unlike many of the recent electric vehicles (EVs) introduced in the market, the all-electric BMW iX3 was not developed on a dedicated electric vehicle platform. However, the German manufacturer has done well in making the most of the incumbent petrol X3 and transforming it to a zero-emission electric vehicle (ZEV).
The production version of the pure electric BMW iX3 was unveiled in July 2020. The e-SUV is being manufactured in China and production commenced in September 2020. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) SUV has been on sale since 2021.
For those customers keen on migration to electric driving, but not keen on ‘futuristic styling’, the BMW iX3 BEV is a potential choice, as its design has not changed from the conventional petrol variant. Of course, as one would expect, there is no tailpipe in the electric iX3 and the front grille is different too! Apart from a few other small changes, much is the same! The BMW iX3 was awarded the prestigious WhatCar? 2022 best electric SUV.
The BMW iX3 family SUVis available in one EV battery size: 80 kWh, and has a claimed pure electric range up to 285 miles for the entry-level M Sport variant. For the higher performance M Sport Pro variant, the claimed range is up to 282 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 240 miles. Useful for both short and longer journeys!
As is the case with electric cars, the BMW iX3 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 150 kW and can achieve a 0%-80% in 34 minutes (10 mins = 55 miles). Both variants incorporate a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, which can fully charge the EV in 7 hours and 30 minutes. However, given that most homes in the UK are restricted to single-phase power supply, expect the EV to take up to 12 hours for a full charge.
The BMW iX3 electric SUV delivers decent performance. The EV is only available as a rear-wheel drive and can achieve 0-62 mph in 6.8 seconds. The vehicle delivers a maximum power up to 286 hp and 400 Nm torque. The top speed of the e-SUV is 111 mph.
The electric SUV is practical, with ample headroom, legroom and space for passengers. The EV offers up to 510 L boot space. Interior quality, level of technology and equipment is in line with the premium price tag. The cockpit combines a 12.3″ fully digital instrument display with a 12″ touch-capable control display. The EV also includes a panoramic sunroof.
The EV is suitable for both families and company-car drivers. Company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate for electric cars. 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 iX3 SUV (credit: BMW)
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