Electric Cars: The Basics
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The BMW X5 SUV 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 X5 luxury SUV has been on sale since 1998. The SUV is manufactured in a number of global locations to include the United States of America and Mexico. The BMW X5 is available as plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
If you are seeking a larger upmarket SUV that can deliver lower driving costs for shorter distances, the latest generation BMW X5 plug-in hybrid SUV is worth considering. The electric vehicle (EV) has a much larger than average onboard EV battery, compared to other PHEVs. The X5 xDrive45e has a 22.29 kWh EV battery, with a WLTP certified range up to 88 km.
Though the real-world electric range will be lower, the EV is well positioned for urban driving and shorter motorway trips and should be able to deliver close to 80 km emission-free. Real-world e-range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: the way the electric vehicle (EV) is driven, road conditions, passenger load, regenerative braking profile, speed, wheel size, weather conditions, etc. Of course, if the driving profile involves higher speeds and sportier performance, the EV range will be impacted further.
By leveraging the hybrid technology i.e. an internal combustion engine (ICE) paired with an electric motor, this large family hybrid SUV achieves both, lower tailpipe emissions and financial savings. The X5 plug-in hybrid has claimed tailpipe emissions up to 32 g (CO2/km), much lower than the conventional petrol engine X5 SUV (249g CO2/km). Lower tailpipe emissions help improve local air quality.
With the BMW X5 EV battery kept topped-up on regular basis, the electric vehicle (EV) owner can leverage the cheaper cost of zero-emission electric driving (between 5 and 10 cents per km), and increase the overall fuel economy of the EV.
BMW claims the plug-in hybrid can achieve up to 1.4 l/100km, but in the real-world, the fuel economy will depend on the use of the electric mode. The greater the EV is driven on zero-tailpipe emissions, the better the fuel economy.
We recommend charging the EV overnight at the convenience of your home, when the electricity tariff rates are lower. It is worth noting that the onboard charger for the X5 PHEV is limited to 3.7 kW. Given the size of the onboard EV battery and the premium-badge, a 7.4 kW onboard charger should have been incorporated as standard.
Charging the EV from 0% to 100% SoC (state-of-charge) using a dedicated EV charger like Easee will take up to 7.25 hours. We encourage EV charging via a dedicated residential EV charger, and discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug. An EV charging station is safer and achieves a faster charging speed. The X5 EV does not offer fast DC charging.
The X5 EV delivers a decent driving performance. The all-wheel drive X5 plug-in hybrid pairs a 3.0-litre (six-cylinder) petrol engine with an electric motor (83 kW). Given the size of the EV, the acceleration achieved is decent: 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds (maximum power: 394 hp).
The top speed on electric mode is 135 km/h and when the EV is being propelled by the combustion engine, the top speed is 235 km/h. Of course, the PHEV can take advantage of the instant torque available from the electric propulsion.
The electric SUV is also practical. Given the exterior styling of a more traditional SUV roofline, the EV offers ample headroom and legroom for adults seated in the rear. The front seats also offer generous space. Despite, the addition of a relatively larger EV battery, the EV boot space is still useful (500 L).
The interior is completed to a high quality, as would be expected from a premium-badged BMW SUV. The EV is well specified in terms of technology, to include: driving assistant, steering and lane control assistant, active slide collision protection, BMW intelligent personal assistant, BMW Digital Key and a lot more.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good electric range for a PHEV. Above average EV battery size for PHEV | Onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW. DC charging not available |
| Efficient engines and reduced tailpipe emissions | Cheaper alternatives available in the market |
| High quality interiors and good boot space | Exterior styling not as progressive as recent competitor models |
Gallery
The BMW X5 Plug-In Hybrid SUV (credit: BMW)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (1 Option) |
|---|
| BMW X5 M Sport (from € 85,895) |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 22.29 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On-board charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 7.25 hrs) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 32 – 27g (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): | 1745 |
| Width (mm): | 2004 |
| Length (mm): | 4922 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2975 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 12.8 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 500 |
| BMW X5 xDrive45e M Sport | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 22.29 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 82 – 88 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh): | 25.8 – 24.3 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100km): | 1.4 – 1.2 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On-board charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 7.25 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 235 km/h (electric: 135 km/h) |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.6 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 83 |
| Max Power (hp): | 394 |
| Torque (Nm): | 450 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,510 |
| Colours: | 9 |
| 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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