Electric Cars: The Basics
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The BMW 3 Series Touring 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 3 Series is currently on its sixth generation. The BMW 330e Touring plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is available as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) and also as an all-wheel drive (AWD).
Though automotive manufacturers like BMW, have been busy upgrading their model portfolios, to include plug-in hybrids, in general, the number of available estate plug-in electric cars, still remains limited, in particular, in the premium-priced segment. Therefore, the BMW 330e plug-in estate electric car is certainly worth the consideration.
The BMW Touring plug-in hybrid, has much is common with the BMW 330e saloon PHEV, albeit the estate is more practical and family-friendly, despite the reduced boot size due to the placement on the EV battery (410 L). Both EVs have a similar battery size and drivetrain.
The estate PHEV has a 11.15 kWh onboard EV battery, with a fuel-free zero-tailpipe emission range up to 61 km (WLTP). Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world EV range will be lower than the WLTP certified range, and assuming a 55 km pure electric range is more realistic. The real-world range will impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, passenger and cargo load, speed, regenerative braking, onboard services used, road conditions and of course the weather!
However, the Touring PHEV offers ample e-range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car. Depending on where and when you charge the EV, the cost of electric driving will be between 5 and 10 cents per km. Far cheaper compared to driving using a petrol or diesel combustion engine.
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. BMW offers a 8 years or 160,000 km warranty.
The EV has a 3.7 kW AC onboard charger, which is disappointing, given the premium 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 3.5 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 5.5 hours to charge the EV. The PHEV does not offer fast DC charging compatibility.
The more a PHEV is driven on EV mode, the better is the overall efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle. BMW claims that the BMW 330e Touring PHEV can deliver up to 1.6 l/100km. Of course, the real-world fuel consumption will depend on how well you leverage the use of the electric motor/ EV battery. The more, the better!
Like all PHEVs, the pairing of an electric motor with the internal combustion engine (ICE), also helps reduce the tailpipe-emissions for the BMW 3 Series plug-in electric car. The claimed tailpipe-emissions is up to 36 (CO2/km). The lower the emissions, the lower the local air pollution. A win-win for all!
The performance of the 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) BMW 3 Series demonstrates its capability as a good all-rounder. Top speed of the car on electric mode is 140 km/h, sufficient for both urban and rural driving (top speed using the combustion engine is 230 km/h). The EV is quick, despite the extra EV battery weight. It can achieve 0-100 km/h in 5.9 seconds (maximum power: 292 hp). The EV also benefits from instant torque.
The BMW Touring PHEV has a good quality interior, as would be expected from a premium-badged EV. In terms of technology, the EV includes: BMW head-up display, BMW curved-display, BMW digital key, reversing assistant, BMW intelligent personal assistant and a lot more. Bottom-line the drivers cockpit is modern, intuitive and practical.
Driving the EV on electric mode will result in material financial savings. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| High quality family estate electric car | Small EV battery and limited electric range |
| Ample room for passengers and luggage capacity | Cheaper alternative estate PHEVs |
| Cheap to run on electric mode | Onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW. DC charging not availale |
Gallery
The BMW 3 Series Touring Plug-In Hybrid Estate (credit: BMW)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Estate |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (2 Options) |
|---|
| BMW 3 Series 330e Sport Touring (from € 55,341) |
| BMW 3 Series 330e xDrive Sport Touring (from € 57,245) |
| 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%: 3.5 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 36 – 31 g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 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): | 1442 |
| Width (mm): | 1827 |
| Length (mm): | 4709 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2851 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.4 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 410 |
| BMW 330e Sport Touring | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 60 – 61 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 16.4 – 16.1 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 1.4 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 230 km/h (electric mode: 140 km/h) |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.9 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 83 |
| Max Power (hp): | 292 |
| Torque (Nm): | 300 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 1,905 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| BMW 330e xDrive Sport Touring | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 57 – 58 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km): | 17.2 – 16.9 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 1.6 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 225 km/h (electric mode: 140 km/h) |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.9 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 83 |
| Max Power (hp): | 292 |
| Torque (Nm): | 300 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 1,965 |
| Colours: | 6 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Air Quality: An Overview
If there is one common theme that unites many of us, it is the concern over worsening air quality in our villages, towns and cities. This concern is not unique to Ireland, but a narrative that is now firmly centre stage globally. The detrimental health consequences of higher pollution, in particular, on the vulnerable, like children and the elderly is significant, and well documented.
According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), the PM2.5 concentration in Ireland is currently 1.6 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value. WHO has described air pollution as the ‘single biggest environmental health risk’, leading to an increase in the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.
Electric vehicles and in particular, zero-tailpipe emission EVs, also known as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), help improve local air quality i.e. a pure electric car does not have a tailpipe/ exhaust, hence, zero-tailpipe emissions! Without an iota of doubt, all types of EVs, to include, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are better for improving air quality, compared to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. We encourage all drivers in Ireland to migrate to lower emission electric driving.
| Type Of Pollutants |
|---|
| Particulate matter (PM or PM 2.5) |
| Ammonia (NH3) |
| Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
| Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCS) |
| Primary Sources Of Pollutants |
|---|
| Road transportation |
| Industrial processes |
| Farming and agricultural processes |
| Waste industry |
| Energy generation |
| Domestic burning |
| Other forms of transportation, such as aviation, shipping and railroads |
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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