Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric BMW iX3 SUV
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):
- The all-electric BMW iX1
- The all-electric BMW iX2
- The all-electric BMW iX3
- The all-electric BMW iX
- The all-electric BMW i3
- The all-electric BMW i4
- The all-electric BMW i5
- The all-electric BMW i7
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 family SUVis available in one EV battery size: 80 kWh, and has a claimed pure electric range up to 460 km for the entry-level M Sport variant. For the higher performance M Sport Pro variant, the claimed range is up to 454 km. 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 390 km. 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 160,000 km, 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 Ireland 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 0-100 km/h 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 180 km/h.
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. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and for the wallet.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A familiar design for those who prefer continuity (very similar to petrol BMW X3 SUV) | Only rear-wheel drive option |
| DC charging up to 150 kW. Three-phase onboard charger as standard | Not built on a dedicated EV platform |
| Practical and a good all-rounder e-SUV | Cheaper alternatives available |
Gallery
The All-Electric BMW iX3 SUV (credit: BMW)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| BMW iX3 M Sport (from € 78,875) |
| BMW iX3 M Sport Pro (from € 82,565) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 80 kWh |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 34 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- 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) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1668 |
| Width (mm): | 1891 |
| Length (mm): | 4734 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2864 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 12.1 |
| Boot Space (L): | 510 |
| BMW iX3 M Sport | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 80 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 460 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh): | 5.3 |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 34 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.8 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 210 |
| Max Power (hp): | 286 |
| Torque (Nm): | 400 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,255 |
| Colours: | 4 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
| BMW iX3 M Sport Pro | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 80 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 454 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh): | 5.3 |
| Charging: | 150 kW DC charging (0%-80%: 34 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.8 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 210 |
| Max Power (hp): | 286 |
| Torque (Nm): | 400 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,255 |
| Colours: | 4 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
Longest Range Pure Electric Cars: Top 5
The electric driving sector has certainly witnessed significant progress in relation to electric range, for both, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Historically, range anxiety has been an impediment for consumers keen to migrate to electric cars, in particular, pure electric cars.
Though range anxiety has been a valid concern, in our view, it had been over-exaggerated. Do keep in mind that most day-to-day driving involves short journeys i.e. school runs, travel to work, local high street, gym, grocery store etc. How many times in a month do we really travel long distances?
In any case, with the latest-generation of pure electric cars, there is ample e-range for both short and long-distance motorway journeys. In fact, the latest-generation of pure electric cars offer a real-world range over 500 km on a single charge. Some of these EVs can travel from the North to the South of Ireland on a single-charge! The longest range electric car on our list below is the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQS saloon with a WLTP claimed range up to 729 km.
Several factors have contributed to the improvement in emission-free electric range. Some of these include: increase in size of the onboard EV battery, improvements in the EV battery management, sleeker aerodynamics, lower vehicle weight and overall improvement in vehicle efficiency. We can expect this trend to continue, as automotive manufacturers labour to further improve the efficiency of electric vehicles and ultimately electric range.
It is also worth noting, that not all automotive manufacturers aspire for the largest onboard EV battery or the longest electric range. Many electric cars, like the all-electric Honda-e have been developed primarily to target the needs of urban drivers, who travel short distances. Of course, even for such electric cars, automotive manufacturers continue to seek improvements in vehicle efficiency and e-range.
| Brand/ Model | Battery Size (kWh) | Electric Range (WLTP) | Body Type | Battery Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz EQS | 108.4 kWh | 729 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| BMW i7 | 105.7 kWh | 622 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE | 90.6 kWh | 617 km | Saloon | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Polestar 3 | 111 kWh | 610 km | SUV | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 98 kWh | 600 km | SUV | 8 years or 160,000 km |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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