BMWs electric and hybrid range is expanding, and soon we expect to see an electric version of most BMW models. With that in mind, choosing the best electric BMW can be difficult, and one factor you’ll need to take into account is the charging time for each BMW car.
Charging times for electric and hybrid vehicles are one of the first things anyone looking at these cars should consider. Across the electric car industry, the success or failure of certain models has come down to their charging time, so it’s vital to know how quickly you can charge up.
In this article, we’ll cover all the current BMW models and how long it takes to charge them. This’ll consider a full charge from empty, along with quicker ‘partial’ charges when you need a few extra miles.
Let’s get started!
What cars are in the current BMW electric/hybrid range?
There are currently five fully electric models, and nine plug-in hybrid models, depending on where you are in the world. For this list, we’ve excluded previous models like the i8 and i3 that are now discontinued.
Current BMW Electric Model Range:
- iX1 – Crossover
- iX3 – SUV
- i4 – Sedan / Saloon
- iX – SUV
- i7 – Sedan / Saloon
Current BMW Hybrid Model Range:
- X1 30e – Crossover
- 225e / 230e – Active Tourer
- X2 25e – Crossover
- 330e – Sedan / Saloon
- X3 30e – SUV
- 530e / 545e – Sedan / Saloon
- X5 45e / 50e – SUV
- 750e / M760e – Sedan / Saloon
- XM – SUV
What are the charging times for BMW electric vehicles?
BMW iX1
With up to 270 miles of range, the iX1 has one of the smallest batteries in the BMW range. At just over 4,400 lbs (2,000 kg), this is also one of the lightest electric BMW models, so the smaller battery capacity doesn’t impact your driving as much.
With around 300 bhp, the iX1 isn’t designed for performance, although it’ll still make 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. As the current entry-level electric model in Europe, the iX1 still offers an impressive range, and acceptable charging times.
| Approximate charging times | ||
| Charging Location | Range: 62 Miles / 100 kilometers | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | 8 minutes | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | 19 minutes | 50 minutes |
| 22 kW charging station | 55 minutes | 6 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 1 hour 32 minutes | 11 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 7 hours 41 minutes | 30 hours |
BMW iX3
The bigger brother of the iX1, the electric version of BMWs popular X3 isn’t a huge step up. The iX3 comes with a claimed 285 miles of range, but it’s down on power at 286 bhp. With a starting weight of just under 5,000 lbs (2,250 kg) don’t expect to beat anyone at the lights.
That isn’t to say the iX3 is a bad car. The X3 platform has been one of BMWs best over the years, and for anyone needing the extra space, this is a true SUV, unlike the iX1. You might be disappointed in the performance, but you still get a solid charging time here.
| Approximate charging times | ||
| Charging Location | Range: 62 Miles / 100 kilometers | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | 10 minutes | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | 20 minutes | 1 hour |
| 22 kW charging station | 1 hour 37 minutes | 8 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 2 hours 25 minutes | 12 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 8 hours 7 minutes | 35 hours |
BMW i4
The i4 comes with a variety of performance specs, with ranges of 270 to 300 miles. The standard models in the range are the e35 spec, with 282 bhp, and the e40, with 335 bhp. Move up to the range-topping M50, and you get dual electric motors with 562 bhp.
Performance isn’t lacking in the i4, no matter what spec you choose, and charging time is equally impressive. The i4 might not be as practical as the SUV models we’ve covered, but there’s no quicker BMW to charge.
| Approximate charging times | ||
| Charging Location | Range: 62 Miles / 100 kilometers | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | 4 minutes | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | 18 minutes | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| 22 kW charging station | 1 hour 23 minutes | 8 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 2 hours 5 minutes | 12 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 7 hours 1 minute | 37 hours |
BMW iX
Our next BMW is the first completely unique electric model, the iX. The previous cars have all been versions of current models, but the iX stands alone, and it’s one of the most impressive electric SUVs on the market.
The entry-level iX50 comes with an impressive 324 miles of range, according to BMW. Move up to the 610bhp iX M60, and the range drops to 288 miles, but that’s still plenty for most drivers. With a quick charging time, this is an electric SUV that’s great for daily use and has more power than you’ll ever need.
| Approximate charging times | ||
| Charging Location | Range: 62 Miles / 100 kilometers | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | 6 minutes | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | 21 minutes | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| 22 kW charging station | 51 minutes | 10 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 2 hours 31 minutes | 16 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 8 hours 31 minutes | 49 hours |
BMW i7
Our final electric BMW is based on their flagship sedan, the 7 Series. The i7 carries on the tradition of 7 Series models with almost every piece of tech you will ever need, along with incredible levels of comfort. On the performance front, 536 bhp will be enough for any situation in the i7.
You don’t lack the range here, either. With a claimed 318 miles, we’d expect that number to drop quite a bit once you start using everything the i7 has to offer, but it’s still a solid starting figure. Charging time is on par with the iX too, and for us, we wouldn’t mind the wait if we get to sit in this BMW.
| Approximate charging times | ||
| Charging Location | Range: 62 Miles / 100 kilometers | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | 6 minutes | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | 21 minutes | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| 22 kW charging station | 48 minutes | 10 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 2 hours 27 minutes | 15 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 8 hours 13 minutes | 46 hours |
The best home chargers for your electric BMW
Now we can see the timing for charging every BMW model, how can you make this as easy as possible? With electric vehicles, it’s always best to charge at home when you can; the cost is a lot cheaper than public chargers, and it’s more convenient for most drivers. So what charger do we recommend for your home…
- The charging current can be adjusted
- High-quality materials
- Heavy cable can be difficult to manage
- Lacks some advanced features
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What are the charging times for BMW hybrid vehicles?
Alongside the fully electric cars, BMW has one of the wider ranges for hybrid cars & SUVs. From the X1 hybrid to the new XM SUV, how do they line up with charging times?
X1 30e
With an electric-only range of up to 56 miles, the X1 30e is an impressive hybrid. The X1 is BMWs entry-level SUV, and although it lacks the practicality of larger SUVs, it’s still capable for families. You only get 150 bhp here, so it’s down on power compared to other hybrids on this list, but the X1 isn’t designed as a performance vehicle.
| Approximate charging times | |
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 3 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 3 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 5 hours |
225e / 230e
The 2 Series Active Tourer has two hybrid options, the 225e and 230e. With 245 bhp and 326 bhp, respectively, these are surprisingly powerful hybrids, and the Active Tourer style keeps that 4-door practicality too. The electric-only range is up to 57 miles for these models, so most short journeys should be possible.
| Approximate charging times | |
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 2 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 2 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 5 hours |
X2 25e
With an electric range of 32 miles, the X2 25e hybrid isn’t the most efficient hybrid on this list. Modeled on the X2 SUV, the X2 25e is one of the most recent additions to the BMW hybrid range and comes with 220 bhp. If you’re after practicality, the X1 30e is the better option here, but if you want a small, sporty SUV, this is a great option.
| Approximate charging times | |
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 3 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 3 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 5 hours |
330e
The 330e is one of BMWs most popular hybrid models, and it’s easy to see why. Based on the immensely popular 3 Series, the 330e comes with 292 bhp and up to 38 miles of electric range. Depending on your region, the 330e is available as either a sedan or wagon, so you get the best of both worlds here.
| Approximate charging times | |
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 3 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 3 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 5 hours |
X3 30e
Another popular hybrid option, the X3 30e contains the same 292 bhp power as the 330e. The range is reduced though, with only 30 miles of electric range, and charging time is slower than previous models. As a larger SUV, this is expected, and despite the increased weight you still get a 0-60mph time of 6.1 seconds.
| Approximate charging times | |
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 4 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 4 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 6 hours |
530e / 545e
Like the 330e. The 5 series hybrid comes in both sedan and wagon options depending on where you are in the world. The range on the 530e is 37 miles, so it’s a capable vehicle for most shorter commutes. Even the more powerful 545e (with 394 bhp) comes with 33 miles of electric range.
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 3 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 3 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 5 hours |
X5 45e / X5 50e
The X5 hybrid models step things up, with more power and electric range. Starting with the X5 45e, you get 31 miles of range and 389 bhp, which will be plenty for most owners. If you’re after more power and range, the 50e spec comes with 489 bhp and over 50 miles on electric only, which is one of the best hybrid combinations we’ve seen from any manufacturer.
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 5 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 5 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 7 hours |
750e / M760e
Only available in a handful of regions around the world, the 7 Series hybrids both contain plenty of performance. The entry-level (if we can call it that) 750e comes with the same 489 bhp from the X5 50e and 53 miles of electric range. The flagship M760e model is even more impressive, with 50 miles of electric range and 571 bhp of performance.
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 4 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 4 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 6 hours |
XM
The most recent BMW hybrid, and one of the most controversial cars released in recent years, the XM is focused on performance above everything else. With a 4.4 liter V8 combined with an electric motor, the XM comes with 644 bhp. The range isn’t neglected, though, and the XM should achieve around 30 miles of electric-only range.
| Charging Location | Empty to Full |
| 350 kW charging station | N / A |
| 50kW charging station | N / A |
| 22 kW charging station | 4 hours |
| 11 kW home wall-box | 4 hours |
| 2.3 kW home charging (plug) | 6 hours |
FAQs
Which electric BMW has the fastest charging time?
The i4 has the fastest charging time of any electric BMW, with just over 7 hours for a full charge at home.
Which electric BMW has the slowest charging time?
The BMW iX has the slowest charging time, with over 8 hours for a full charge at home.
Which electric BMW has the most range?
With over 320 miles of range, the BMW iX 50 has the most range
Which electric BMW has the most power?
The BMW iX M60 has the most power of any electric BMW, with 610 bhp
Which hybrid BMW has the most power?
With 640 bhp, the XM has the most power of any BMW hybrid
Summary
Overall, the current BMW electric and hybrid range has a vehicle for almost every occasion. Every manufacturer is rapidly expanding their electric model lineups, and we expect to see more BMWs on this list in the future. With models like the iX and i7 selling well, BMW will be committed to producing more premium electric models. We’ll see charging times and ranges continue to improve as the industry develops and hopefully see home charging become a more efficient process too.
If you want to find out more about all things BMW, check out our other articles below:
Which BMW Models have Wireless Charging?
BMW Climate Comfort Package Explained
Which BMW Models Come With Laserlights?
