BMW has launched the BMW i5 eDrive35L, the electric version of the long wheelbase 5 series sedan. Compared to the international spec, this India-spec version’s wheelbase has been extended by 110mm. Priced at Rs. 79.60 lakh (ex-showroom), it commands a Rs. 3 lakh premium over its petrol counterpart, the 530Li. We put the BMW i5 LWB through our real-world tests to find out how efficient it really is
- Claimed range is 669km
- Gets five regen modes - High, Medium, Low, B Mode and Adaptive.
- Net battery capacity is 76.3kWh
BMW i5 LWB real-world range and charging explained
This BMW i5 LWB is powered by a single motor mounted on the rear-axle, and produces 272hp and 410Nm. It is equipped with a 81.6kWh (gross capacity) battery pack that uses NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) cell chemistry. For this test, we drove the BMW i5 LWB in 'Efficient' mode with the regen set to 'Adaptive'. In Adaptive mode, the regenerative braking is automatically adjusted depending on the road and traffic conditions, and it works as intended.
In the city, the i5 delivered an efficiency of 4.4km/kWh, whereas on the highway, it delivered 5.71km/kWh. This extrapolates to a range of 336km and 436km in the city and on the highway, respectively. With an overall average efficiency of 5.06km/kWh, you can expect a real world range of 386km on a full charge.
BMW claims that the i5 can charge from 10-80 percent in 33 minutes using a 160kW DC fast charger. We recharged its battery using a 60kW DC fast charger, and it took 47 minutes to charge the battery from 20-80 percent.
Autocar India’s range testing
Before our real-world range tests, the battery of our test car was fully charged, and we maintained tyre pressures in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. The car was driven on a weekday in Mumbai city and on the adjoining state highway in a fixed loop, and we maintained the set average speeds. At the end of each cycle, we calculated the range based on the percentage charge consumed.
Throughout our tests, the climate control was set to 22deg C in a full-auto setting, and other electricals, such as the audio system, indicators and ventilated front seats, were used when required, just as a regular user would. We take pride in our testing data, which isn’t merely consistent but also gives users an accurate indication of what they can expect in the real world.