BMW might have been a little behind other automakers in announcing their EV plans, but don’t count them out. We have the i4 and iX which provide the foundation.
The previous push toward electrified models that came with the i3 and i8 cars is only going to move faster and harder as BMW works toward its now-stated goals. What does BMW plan for its electrified future? Similar to nearly every other automaker in the world, the BMW plan is to have nearly half of its global sales be battery-electric models by 2030. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
A Shorter Goal with a Tight Window
One their way to achieving the same 50% sales figures in the EV market as other brands, BMW intends to grow sales of fully electric models over the next few years. By the end of 2025, this company intends to deliver nearly two million fully-electric vehicles to the market. This would be more than ten times the sales figure from 2020 and in only five years. To date, BMW has not announced plans to be a fully-electric brand, unlike some of its direct competitors in the luxury car world.
The i4 and iX are the Cornerstone Pieces to this Puzzle
Unlike the initial toe-dipping BMW did with the i3 and i8, the BMW EV plans hinge around a full dive into the proverbial EV lake with the i4 and iX models. These two fully-electric vehicles fit in a space that makes a lot more sense than their predecessors. The BMW i4 is a midsize sedan using an electric powertrain. This leaves room above and below it for new models to be added to the lineup. The BMW iX similarly fits in a crossover space that offers plenty of room for growth in the luxury SUV market.
What Does the BMW i4 Offer?
The BMW i4 comes in two variants to make it an all-electric luxury compact sports sedan. This car is offered in the RWD eDrive40 model or the AWD M50 version. BMW has made incredible strides toward making this car as carbon-neutral as possible. The electric motors and aluminum cases are made in a factory that only uses hydroelectric power, and the lithium mined for the batteries comes from Australia, where environmental protection and human rights are important to the nation. This means you can feel good about how the i4 is built and the source of raw materials for this electric car.
An Athletic Feeling Delivered with Electricity
We wouldn’t get too excited about a BMW car that didn’t deliver an athletic drive. Thankfully, the i4 is similar in size to the 3 Series sedan, which is one of the most admired and impressive sport-luxury cars in the market. The i4 delivers a nearly perfect weight distribution front-to-rear, giving it the desired driving feel. In the base model, this car can hit 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. That time is cut to 3.9 seconds for the M50 version.
What Powers the BMW i4?
You can see the BMW influence in the EV plans the i4 spells out. The desire to continue to offer powerful drivetrains alongside standard models is at the core of everything this brand offers. The eDrive40 model has a single electric motor that offers 335 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. The driving range is 301 miles, and a DC fast charger can add 90 miles of range in 10 minutes.
Moving to the M50, a pair of electric drive the wheels of this EV. These motors deliver 530 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels. The driving range is 270 miles on a full charge. If you need to charge either car overnight, a 240-volt supply can handle the job in less than eight hours.
What Does the BMW iX Offer?
The new BMW iX is a luxury crossover SUV occupying the EV segment. This vehicle is large enough to fit in the midsize class but small enough to be nimble and quick on the highway. As with the i4, BMW looks to keep every aspect of the production process for the iX as environmentally clean and humane as possible. This is done while achieving a low carbon footprint while this SUV is being manufactured.
Driving this BMW SUV is a Pleasure
Initially, only the xDrive50 is offered for the BMW iX, but part of the BMW EV plans is to expand this SUV and others to add M-variants of each. This impressive vehicle does have the power and quickness to reach 60 mph in only 4.6 seconds, which is pretty impressive. The iX offers impressive stability at high speeds, which makes it a pleasure to drive out on the highway with your family inside. Whether you’re heading to a local sporting event or taking the family out for dinner, the iX could be the electric SUV that gets you where you want to go.
What Provides the Power for the BMW iX?
Currently, two electric motors give the iX xDrive50 the electric AWD system desired. An M60 variant should arrive in the middle of 2023. For now, this electric SUV delivers 523 horsepower and 564 lb-ft of torque. This power is impressive, and the driving range can reach up to 324 miles on a single charge. The iX can also add 90 miles of range in 10 minutes using a DC fast charger or charge completely in 11 hours via a 240-volt power outlet.
The BMW EV Plans are Unfolding
With the i4 and iX already in the market and performance variants of each in the conversation, you can see how BMW intends to become an EV automaker. This company will not ditch its personality in this new electrified world. Instead, they will embrace the performance and luxury aspects of what EVs have to offer and bring those qualities to the automotive market. There are sure to be many more BMW models getting the electric treatment as this company works toward offering 50% global sales in the EV marketplace before the end of the decade.
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