Electric Cars: The Basics
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The BMW 5 Series Saloon PHEV
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):
- BMW 2 Series Active Tourer PHEV
- BMW 3 Series Saloon PHEV
- BMW 3 Series Touring PHEV
- BMW 5 Series Saloon PHEV
- BMW 5 Series Touring PHEV
- BMW 7 Series PHEV
- BMW X1 PHEV
- BMW X2 PHEV
- BMW X3 PHEV
- BMW X5 PHEV
The BMW 5 Series is currently in its seventh-generation, to include the BMW 530e plug-in electric vehicle (PHEV). The BMW 5 Series has been manufactured since 1972. The BMW PHEV is available both as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) and an all-wheel drive (AWD).
The conventional BMW 5 Series has been a best-seller with those company-car executives, keen on refinement and a premium-badge. However, with the addition of the plug-in hybrid variant, the BMW 5 Series has become even more attractive to company-car executives seeking financial savings.
But the BMW 5 Series PHEV is not just for company-car drivers. Private owners seeking a larger and more luxurious saloon will also find the 530e plug-in electric car compelling. For a start, the electric vehicle (EV) offers a decent zero-tailpipe emission electric range via a 11.15 kWh onboard EV battery.
The automotive manufacturer claims a pure electric range up to 60 km (WLTP). Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world EV range will be lower than the WLTP range, and assuming a 55 km electric range is more realistic. However, 55 km is ample e-range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car for shorter distances. The cost of driving on electric mode is usually between 5 and 10 cents per km i.e. much cheaper than driving using the combustion petrol or diesel engine.
Depending on the 5 Series PHEV variant driven, the claimed fuel economy is up to 2.2 l/100km. As is the case with electric range, the real-world fuel economy will depend on a number of factors to include, the usage level of the electric mode in the PHEV. Bottom-line, the higher the utilisation of the emission-free electric range, higher the fuel economy, lower the cost of motoring.
Also, the best way to enjoy the smoother and silent electric mode, is to make sure that the EV battery is ‘topped up’ on a regular basis. This also helps with the long-term health and maintenance of the EV battery. The EV has a 3.7 kW AC onboard charger, which is disappointing, given the price tag. A 7.4 kW onboard charger should have been incorporated as standard. Nevertheless, do take advantage of the faster and safer charging using a dedicated EV charger like Wallbox.
The BMW electric car can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for EV charging. Using a domestic plug will take up to 4 hours to charge the EV. The PHEV does not offer fast DC charging compatibility.
The performance of the BMW 5 Series demonstrates its capability as a good all-rounder. The 5 Series hybrid pairs the BMW 80 kW eDrive (electric drive technology) with a 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) petrol engine. Top speed of the car on electric mode is 140 km/h, sufficient for both urban and rural driving. For motorway driving, the EV can take advantage of the petrol engine propulsion (top speed: 250 km/h). The EV is quick, despite the extra weight of the onboard EV battery, and can achieve 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds (maximum power: 394 HP) for the top of the range variant. The EV also benefits from instant torque.
The BMW 530e saloon plug-in electric car does not disappoint in terms of quality and luxury. In terms of practicality, without an iota of doubt, the EV offers much interior space and superior comfort in the cabin. The only significant change in the PHEV compared to the ICE variant, is the reduced boot space due to the placement of the onboard EV battery.
Even then, the electric car offers up to 410 L, which should be sufficient for most needs. The EV is technology-laden, to include a host of safety features: driving assistant professional, reversing assistant, BMW Laserlight, BMW digital key, BMW live cockpit professional and more.
The BMW 530e Saloon plug-in hybrid has tailpipe emissions up to 50g (CO2/km), which is considerably lower compared to the conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) 5 Series (157g CO2/km). Of course, lower tailpipe emissions helps reduce local air pollution.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good exterior design, styling and high quality interior | Small EV battery, onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW AC |
| Decent driving performance and cheap to run on electric mode | Higher tailpipe emissions, compared to recent PHEVs |
| Decent practicality | Not as efficient as some newer PHEVs |
Gallery
The BMW 5 Series Saloon Plug-In Hybrid (credit: BMW)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Saloon |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| BMW 530e M Sport Saloon (from € 67,625) |
| BMW 530e xDrive M Sport Saloon (from € 70,075) |
| BMW 545e xDrive M Sport Saloon (from € 77,755) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 11.15 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 50 – 32g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years or 150,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1483 |
| Width (mm): | 1868 |
| Length (mm): | 4963 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2975 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.95 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 410 |
| BMW 530e M Sport Saloon | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 53 – 60 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 18.1 – 16.6 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 1.8 – 1.4 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 235 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.9 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 80 |
| Max Power (hp): | 292 |
| Torque (Nm): | 300 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 1,910 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| BMW 530e xDrive M Sport Saloon | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 48 – 54 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 19.2 – 17.7 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 2.1 – 1.7 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 230 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.9 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 80 |
| Max Power (hp): | 292 |
| Torque (Nm): | 300 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 1,970 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| BMW 545e xDrive M Sport Saloon | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 47 – 54 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 19.1 – 17.7 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 2.2 – 1.8 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 250 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 4.6 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 80 |
| Max Power (hp): | 394 |
| Torque (Nm): | 450 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,020 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)
Never have the reasons to buy an electric car been more compelling, than 2022. The past decade has witnessed a significant maturity of all types of electric vehicles (EVs), to include, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A BEV, also known as a pure electric car, is propelled using energy stored in an EV battery via an electric motor. While a PHEV uses ‘hybrid technology’, to include, an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor, to propel the vehicle.
One of the primary differences between a BEV and a PHEV, is that, a pure electric car, like the best-selling Tesla Model 3, has a much longer zero-tailpipe emission electric range, compared to a plug-in hybrid electric car, like the Toyota Prius PHEV. The reason is simple: a BEV has a much larger onboard EV battery. In general, the latest BEVs have a zero-emission range between 150 to 400 kms, while PHEVs average closer to 50 kms. Given the significant increase in electric range, improvement in EV charging infrastructure and attractive government grants, BEVs are fast becoming the preferred type of electric vehicle to own!
| Lower tailpipe emissions and lower air pollution i.e. improves air quality in the immediate area. |
| Significantly cheaper to recharge a full EV battery, compared to filling a full tank of petrol/ diesel. An EV battery can be charged for as little as €10, while filling a tank of fuel is over €100! |
| Cheaper to drive per km, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. An EV costs less than 5 cents per km to drive. |
| Lower maintenance costs, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Pure electric cars have fewer moving parts, so less can go wrong! |
| Lower noise pollution, compared to an internal combustion engine petrol/ diesel car. Noise pollution is as detrimental on health, as air pollution! |
| A vast range of fantastic EV available on sale, for all budgets and aspirations. EVs have come a long way since the introduction of the first generation all-electric Nissan Leaf in 2010. |
| Attractive government subsidies to support the uptake of electric cars. Take advantage while still available. |
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