Bmw has made it clear that the new iX3 electric crossover is one of the longest-range and fastest-charging mainstream EVs on the market right now. To make it even clearer, the German automaker's Chinese arm just achieved another impressive feat. A long-wheelbase iX3 drove on the highly demanding Qinghai Lake grand loop, starting from Xining and returning to the same place after over 500 miles of driving on a single charge. The EV drove on public roads exclusively and under real-world traffic conditions, finishing the challenge with 2% battery capacity remaining.
According to Bmw, the total range potential ranged between 519 and 522 miles, despite having to climb over 6,500 feet and experiencing temperatures as low as 34°F. That's nearly 100 miles over the iX3's 434-mile EPA rating in the United States. During the trip, the German EV averaged just 20.2 kilowatt-hours/100 miles, thanks in no small part to the two electric motors' ability to funnel energy back into the battery using regenerative braking during descents.
View Price on AmazonAt this point, it's worth noting that the long-wheelbase iX3 50L xDrive, which is exclusive to China, is powered by the same 108.7-kilowatt-hour battery and dual electric motors as the standard-wheelbase iX3 50 xDrive that's available in Europe and will make its way to the U.S. by the end of this year. In other words, American and European customers can expect serious range from their new Bmw EVs.
This is not the first time that the iX3's range was put to the test. Earlier this year, EV enthusiast and YouTuber Bjorn Nyland drove the iX3 on a 621-mile road trip, and just two short charging stops were needed. It beat all of its competitors. An earlier challenge came last year, when Bmw employees drove an iX3 for 626 miles without recharging, although they did so without using highways or the climate system.
Thanks to its 800-volt Neue Klasse architecture, the iX3's battery can accept up to 400 kW of power from a potent enough DC fast charger, leading to a 10-to-80% top-up in 21 minutes. The iX3 50 xDrive is the first version available, but a cheaper variant, the iX3 40, with a smaller, 82.6-kWh battery and a single rear motor, is on the way.
Source: insideevs.com
