How BMW and charging have grown together

More range from every BMW electric model

So, what has changed? Well, first, today’s breed of all-electric models offers far more range than early models like the BMW i3. Take the BMW i4 that Jim is driving today. Depending on which spec you pick, it offers anywhere between 311 miles of range all the way up to 359 miles (WLTP)[1]. That’s enough to get Jim and Jennifer the 175-to-200 miles from Sheffield to see their family in Bristol on one charge.

And that’s true of all the models in BMW’s fast-growing line-up of all-electric models, giving you a comprehensive choice of all-electric saloons, estates and SUVs to fit your lifestyle. For example, the sporty BMW iX2 SUV coupé boasts up to 283 miles of range (WLTP)[1] – enough to get you from Birmingham to Bristol and back on one charge – while the BMW i7 can cover up to 387 miles (WLTP)[1]. That could get you from London to the Lake District on one charge.

More chargers; and more faster chargers

Equally, the UK’s charging network has grown at a rapid pace. According to zap-map.com, as of June 2024 there were over 64,000 devices at 33,800 UK locations. And the network continues to grow fast, with around 2,200 new devices added in June 2024 alone. 

The way the network has been laid out also makes real sense. Around 20% of chargers are 50kW+ rapid chargers and 150kW+ ultra-rapid chargers that add a lot of miles in short periods of time – and these tend to be located at motorway service stations and petrol stations on major A-road routes where drivers want to do a quick top-up around coffee and lunch breaks.

That means you can use natural breaks in your journey to incorporate short bursts of top-up charging – something electric converts call ‘grazing’ – before finding a more cost-effective and time-effective ‘destination charging’ option at your final halt.

“The infrastructure is really incomparable with what it was back then,” says Jim. “There are lots of them, and they’re much more reliable.”

Equally, BMW has made accessing the UK’s fast-growing charging network even easier with BMW Charging. It’s an account with simple tariffs that give you easy one-card access to over 36,000 UK chargers and over 760,000 chargers across Europe – all without having to juggle multiple charging accounts and multiple charging cards, while offering the opportunity to take advantage of preferential rates with selected suppliers.[3]

Smarter in-car BMW electric navigation

The in-car BMW Maps on all of BMW’s electric models uses always-online cloud-based Connected Navigation with Connected Charging and Connected Parking to ensure that navigating this wealth of chargers is even more efficient.

BMW Maps can dynamically plot your ideal route: seamlessly syncing the latest real-time traffic with the best, fastest or most cost-effective charging solutions – whether it’s ultra-rapid chargers on your route or charging options near your destination where you can park your vehicle and charge at a slower, more cost-effective rate.

Plus, thanks to the always-online connectivity of electric BMWs, you can also interact seamlessly with your vehicle remotely using the My BMW App on your smartphone. 

You can view your battery’s range and charging status from anywhere – whether it’s from the comfort of your sofa when your car is plugged into a home charger, or while you’re grabbing a coffee while your car is plugged into a public charger. It helps you control the time and cost spent charging.[2] 

You can then plan the next leg of your journey remotely using the My BMW App, before syncing it seamlessly with the BMW Maps system in your vehicle. You can also pre-condition your car’s interior while it’s plugged in and charging, meaning you don’t waste a minute of your time or any valuable range to ensure your car is at the right temperature – whether cool or warm – for you to get in and head off.

“Driving the i4 is just an amazing experience,” says Jim. “Pretty much we can leave the house now and not worry about where we’re going. It will put a location in and recommend that you go to that, so I don’t look on five different apps to figure out where we’re going.”

As Jennifer adds: “I always ask him: ‘Where are we stopping? Have you planned?’. He says: ‘No need to Jennifer, we just need to go, it’ll be fine. And it is…”

Learn more about BMW’s electric line-up

[1] Battery electric vehicle require mains electricity for charging. These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Whilst we recommend the battery for this vehicle is normally charged to 80% to help optimise the health and life of your battery, this WLTP figure was obtained after the battery had been charged to 100%. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare fuel consumption, Co2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

[2] Features and functionality dependent on vehicle type and specification.