The All-Electric BMW i5 Saloon: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The BMW i5 Electric Saloon

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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):

• All-electric BMW iX3
• All-electric BMW iX1
• All-electric BMW iX2
• All-Electric BMW i5
• All-Electric BMW i7
• All-electric BMW iX
• All-electric BMW i4
• All-electric BMW i3

BMW continues to build on its EV experience curve with the introduction of the all-electric BMW i5. The best-selling BMW 5 Series has been manufactured since 1972 and the executive car is currently in its eight-generation.

The 5 Series has proved to be a remarkable success for BMW, after the 3 Series range. As of 2023, more than 10 million units of the iconic BMW 5 Series have been manufactured. The latest generation 5 Series is now available as a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) and a battery-electric vehicle (BEV). BMW is expected to introduce the 5 Series plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) variant in 2024.

The all-electric BMW i5 is manufactured at the BMW Dingolfing plant in Germany, which also manufacturers a number of other BEV models, to include, the all-electric BMW i7 and the all-electric BMW iX. BMW remains committed to a sustainable approach to sourcing and manufacturing. Interestingly, up to 30% of the components are recycled material. The company claims that the latest-generation 5 Series has a 58% lower lifecycle carbon footprint compared to the previous generation.

According to the company, “Using electricity from renewable sources in the supply chain is an important lever for achieving CO2 savings. The BMW Group has already concluded more than 400 supply contracts that include the use of green electricity’. Of course this is not unique to BMW. Other automotive OEMs are also adopting a similar approach!

The pure electric i5 is positioned between the all-electric i4 and the all-electric i7. For company car executives and families keen on an environmentally-friendly premium pure electric saloon, the four-door BMW i5 has much to offer.

The premium electric car is available in one EV battery size (83.9 kWh) with a claimed zero-tailpipe emission electric range between 455 -575 km (WLTP). The eDrive40 M Sport has a range up to 575 km, the eDrive40 M Sport Pro has a range up to 568 km, the M60 xDrive has a range up to 508 km and the top of the range M60 has a range up to 516 km.

Of course, the claimed range needs to be adjusted for real-world driving conditions. The EV incorporates an onboard heat pump as standard to improve vehicle efficiency. In comparison, the all-electric Mercedes-Benz EQE saloon has a 90.56 kWh onboard with a claimed e-range up to 618 km.

Despite the premium price tag, BMW offers DC charging only up to 205 kW DC. By way of comparison, the cheaper Hyundai IONIQ 6 saloon offers up to 350 kW DC as standard. Nevertheless, given the current public charging infrastructure, 205 kW DC is suitable. The i5 can be charged up to 80% in 30 minutes. Put another way, an additional 156 km range can be added every 10 minutes.

The EV also offers a three-phase 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard, with an option to upgrade to a 22 kW AC onboard charger. However, given that most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply, home charging will be limited to single-phase EV charging. For those with access to 3-phase (11 kW) AC EV charging, the BEV can be fully charged in 8 hours and 25 minutes. Single-phase EV charging will take longer!

Though the BMW i5 is not as aerodynamic as the Hyundai IONIQ 6 (drag coefficient Cd: 0.21), the i5 sleeker design offers a Cd: 0.23 drag coefficient. The more aerodynamic an electric vehicle (EV), the lower the air resistance and higher the electric range! BMW also utilises lighter weight materials to increase vehicle efficiency. These include, high-strength steels, aluminium doors, density-reduced plastics and more!

In terms of performance, the rear-wheel drive (RWD) i5 eDrive40 M Sport and Sport Pro can deliver 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds, with a top speed up to 193 km/h (max power: 340 hp/ torque: 400 Nm). While the all-wheel drive (AWD) M60 xDrive and M60 can achieve 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed up to 230 km/h (max power: 601 hp/ torque: 795 Nm). The eDrive40 and the M60 xDrive use the fifth-generation BMW eDrive technology. The EV offers as an option, a trailer tow hitch with a towing capacity up to 2,000 kg.

The latest-generation 5 Series is longer by 97 mm (5,060 mm), wider by 32 mm (1,900 mm) and taller by 36 mm (1,515 mm) compared to its predecessor. The wheelbase has also been increased by 20 mm to 2,995 mm. The boot capacity is 490 L.

The EV offers ample headroom and legroom for passengers. There is an option for a panoramic glass roof which has a viewing area 90% larger than the predecessor model. In terms of the interior, in keeping with the broader trend in the automotive industry, the BMW i5 has a fully vegan interior, Veganza. It is the first BMW to offer a fully vegan interior!

The EV incorporates the BMW curved display, which includes a 12.3″ information display and a 14.9″ control display. These operate on the latest BMW Operating System 8.5. There is also a host of technology on offer, as standard equipment and options. Some of these include: highway assistant, distance control, lane control assistance, parking assist and more!

Of course, the EV offers smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. According to BMW, “As a world first, the Active Lane Change Assistant in the new BMW 5 Series Sedan can be controlled by eye confirmation”. Also worth noting that the EV has a camera placed in the interior of the vehicle to capture special moments while stationary or driving.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!

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PROS	CONS
Available as both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) variants	Cheaper alternatives available
Onboard heat pump as standard	DC charging limited to 205 kW DC
Three-phase (11 kW) onboard charger as standard	All-wheel drive only available on the top trims

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The All-Electric BMW i5 Saloon (credit: BMW)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:	Saloon
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
BMW i5 (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 83.9 kWh
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
EV Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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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

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1515
Width (mm):	1900
Length (mm):	5060
Wheelbase (mm):	2995
Turning Circle (m):	12.3
Boot Capacity (L):	490

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BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport
EV Battery Capacity:	83.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	503 – 575 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	16.1 – 18.7
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	193 km/h
0-100 km/h:	6.0 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	250
Max Power (hp):	340
Torque (Nm):	400
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,205
Colours:	11
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro
EV Battery Capacity:	83.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	502 – 568 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	16.3 – 18.7
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	193 km/h
0-100 km/h:	6.0 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	250
Max Power (hp):	340
Torque (Nm):	400
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,205
Colours:	11
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i5 M60 xDrive
EV Battery Capacity:	83.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	458 – 508 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	18.4 – 20.5
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	230 km/h
0-100 km/h:	3.8 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	442
Max Power (hp):	601
Torque (Nm):	795
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,380
Colours:	11
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i5 M60
EV Battery Capacity:	83.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	455 – 516 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	18.2 – 20.6
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	230 km/h
0-100 km/h:	3.8 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	442
Max Power (hp):	601
Torque (Nm):	795
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,380
Colours:	11
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Electric Vehicles (EVs): Jargons

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There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen a few jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)!

Glossary: Electric Vehicles (EVs)
Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV):	What is a BEV? A battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is more commonly referred to as a pure electric car. A BEV is ‘pure’, in that, the vehicle only uses electric power for propulsion i.e. a BEV does not have an internal combustion engine (ICE). It is easy to recognise these zero-tailpipe emission green cars, as these vehicles are silent (except for the artificial noise), and do not have a tailpipe!
Frunk:	What is a frunk? Though a frunk is not a new term, its availability is becoming more widespread with the development of electric vehicles (EVs). A frunk is a storage space/ compartment/ trunk in the front of a vehicle, rather than the rear. In the case of pure electric cars, given that these vehicles do not have an onboard internal combustion engine (ICE), there is space for a frunk. It is worth noting that a frunk is usually much smaller than a trunk, and in EVs, a good space for storing the EV cable.
Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs):	What is a MHEV? Mild hybrids use both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and an electric motor. These cars are also known as ‘self-charging hybrids’. The vehicle uses regenerative braking (recuperated electric energy) to improve the fuel efficiency and to reduce tailpipe emissions (CO2 g/km). However, mild hybrids cannot be charged by an external power source, like an EV charger.
Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV):	What is a PHEV? Like a MHEV, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) aims to increase the fuel efficiency and reduce tailpipe emissions. However there is much difference between a PHEV and a MHEV. A PHEV has a more powerful electric motor and a larger onboard EV battery. In a PHEV, the electric motor and onboard EV battery are also used to propel the electric vehicle. Moreover, a PHEV battery is charged by using an external power source, like a dedicated EV charger.
Regenerative Braking:	What is regenerative braking? Also known as regen braking or brake recuperation, regenerative braking is a process of capturing the wasted energy (during braking) from an electric vehicle, to be reused (recycled). In the case of electric driving, the ‘captured’ energy is reused to increase the pure electric range of the EV.

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