The range of electric cars.

Electric cars now have a very impressive range. Lithium-ion battery technology has improved massively in recent years. These batteries can now store more energy and be recharged more quickly. Modern electric cars are also designed to be energy-efficient. This includes improvements to the aerodynamics, rolling resistance and energy recovery (recuperation) systems. This all helps to increase the range of the cars.

To find out more on how to maximise your range, visit our BMW EfficientDynamics page here: "https://www.bmw.ie/en/topics/fascination-bmw/efficient-dynamics/efficient-driving.html"

The abbreviation WLTP means "Worldwide Harmonised Light Cars Test Procedure". This is a test cycle regulated by law, which consists of four sub-cycles. Essentially, it consists of a combination of urban, suburban, rural and motorway driving. In practice, however, apart from the average speed, the range depends on other factors, which often deviate from the cycle assumptions: personal driving style, location-specific traffic situation, outside temperature, uphill/downhill gradients and heating/air conditioning, among others. When driving purely on the motorway, the stated WLTP range is not usually achieved due to the lower energy consumption used in the WLTP calculation for urban and rural sub-cycles. In practice, this percentage drop below the WLTP range cannot be exactly predicted due to individual, greatly varying speeds and other aforementioned factors.

The cold can reduce the range of an electric car battery. The usable capacity of the battery can be limited by low temperatures, and the heating system needs more energy.

How can I keep the battery range high in cold weather despite all this? Many electric cars offer the option of pre-heating the car before a journey, preferably when the car is being charged, to warm up the interior and the battery. This reduces the impact of cold on the range. It also helps if the car is parked in a garage in cold temperatures. Specific activation of window and seat heating or pre-heating before the start of a journey also drains a battery less than full air conditioning. Driving in an economical mode, such as Efficient Mode, will also achieve a greater range. Energy consumption can be reduced by limiting comfort functions, such as air conditioning.

Electric driving is here to stay. The ever expanding BMW fully electric range has all-electric ranges between 278-611 km*.

*Based on the BMW All-Electric Range - values are preliminary; measured according to the WLTP test cycle. These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. There is a new test for fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures. The electric range shown was achieved using the new test procedure. 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 car load. Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedure.

Temperature is a key external factor that affects a battery's performance and capacity. This is no doubt a factor you may have experienced with your mobile phone: its capacity is also limited in very cold temperatures. It's the same with your car. The influence of temperature is minimised by optimised operating strategies.

And did you know that the battery capacity also indicates your possible available range? Apart from the temperature, the range is largely affected by your personal driving style, and also by energy consumption factors, such as the air conditioning, trailer load, luggage, etc. By far the most important factor in terms of driving style is your chosen motorway speed.

If you need to charge on the go, your BMW electric car will be preconditioned when you enter a DC charging station as your destination. This means that the high-voltage battery will be adjusted to the optimum operating temperature when you reach your destination, which will increase its charging capability and shorten the charging time. , which will increase its charging capability and shorten the charging time.

Range is largely affected by your personal driving style. By far the most important factor in terms of driving style is your chosen motorway speed.

Temperature is a key external factor that affects a battery's performance and capacity: its capacity is limited in very cold temperatures. If you need to charge on the go, your BMW electric car will be preconditioned when you enter a DC charging station as your destination. This means that the high-voltage battery will be adjusted to the optimum operating temperature when you reach your destination, which will increase its charging capability and shorten the charging time.