[Taboleo] Real Driving Range Reaches 500 km... BMW i5

The First Pure Electric 5 Series
Real Driving Range of 495 km on a Single Charge
Ride Comfort Combining Firmness and Softness
Less Jerking Typical of Electric Vehicles

The BMW 5 Series receives exceptional love from Koreans. This affection is proven by the fact that the 5 Series sells the most in Korea, surpassing the world's largest markets such as China, the United States, and Europe. This year, up to October, 17,010 units were sold (according to the Korea Imported Automobile Association). This figure exceeds the 13,770 units sold by Volvo Cars Korea, which ranked third in imported car sales.

With the complete redesign of the 8th generation, this vehicle was first launched in Korea worldwide in the second half of this year. Alongside it, the pure electric model i5 was also released. As the first pure electric vehicle among the 5 Series, it is a model expected to receive many choices from Korean consumers.

BMW i5 eDrive 40 [Photo by BMW Korea]

I test drove the entry trim eDrive 40 of the i5. I drove a round trip of 132 km from Gangnam, Seoul to Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province. The most impressive result of the test drive was the fuel efficiency, which exceeded the official rating. The ride comfort close to that of a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle and the simple interface were advantages.

This model's maximum driving range on a single charge is originally 384 km (combined standard). The certified efficiency is also 4.1 km/kWh. However, during the test drive on the 16th of last month, the actual single-charge driving range was 495.32 km. The conditions were as follows: it was raining that day, and the wind was quite strong. The test route included urban roads, highways, and winding courses. The driving mode was set to the strongest regenerative braking and efficiency mode from Seoul to Gapyeong. On the highway, adaptive cruise control was used to drive between 80 and 100 km/h according to the speed limit. On the return trip, regenerative braking was switched to an adaptive mode that varies depending on the situation. Also, acceleration and deceleration were done boldly without maintaining a constant speed.

Starting with a fully charged battery at 100%, after driving for 2 hours and 48 minutes, the power consumed was 10.5 kWh. The energy efficiency was 6.1 km/kWh, the remaining battery level was 72%, and the remaining driving range was 344 km.
[Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@]

The battery started at 100% charge and the drive lasted 2 hours and 48 minutes. The power used was 10.5 kWh, and the efficiency was 6.1 km/kWh. The battery level was 72%, and the remaining driving range was 344 km. Calculating the driving range by multiplying the battery capacity by the efficiency results in the above 495 km.

Regarding this, a BMW Korea official said, "The efficiency measurement was based on 21-inch wheels," adding, "The i5 sold domestically comes with 19-inch or 20-inch wheels, and the larger the wheel size, the lower the efficiency." The test vehicle also had 20-inch wheels.

The ride comfort felt like a good blend of firmness and softness. During the test course, there were winding mountain roads and many speed bumps. When entering corners, both the driver and passengers were well supported. Even when there was body roll, it felt like it was held in place without bouncing out. Regarding speed bumps, the feeling was that all four wheels lifted and then settled together. In other words, it felt like a somewhat firm landing. However, when each wheel encountered small road irregularities, that wheel absorbed the shock well. Noise was also well filtered.

BMW i5 eDrive40 Interior
Photo by BMW Korea

One of the characteristics of electric vehicles, jolting, was almost absent. Especially when driving in efficiency mode, which enhances battery efficiency, even when pressing the accelerator pedal, torque did not increase excessively, and acceleration felt smooth. Even when regenerative braking was set to high, deceleration was not severe when releasing the accelerator pedal.

The interior design was clean without any unnecessary elements. The curved display extending from the driver's seat to the center fascia gives a futuristic feel unique to electric vehicles. The steering wheel is simply configured to turn on and off driving assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control at once. The column-type gear lever located to the right of the driver's seat gives a charming impression, and the sound control button reminded one of crystal. The crystal-designed bar extending from the driver's seat through the digital instrument cluster to the passenger seat is backlit, adding luxury.

BMW i5 eDrive40 [Photo by BMW Korea]

In the exterior design, the most eye-catching feature is the front kidney grille. Lights come out around this kidney grille. This can be seen in all trims except the entry trim of the 5 Series. Although the grille was introduced for engine air circulation, it is also applied to electric vehicles to highlight BMW's unique design.

However, there are some drawbacks. While road noise was certainly controlled at speeds above 90 km/h, wind noise hitting the car was somewhat noticeable. The reason is that this vehicle is not equipped with laminated glass. Regarding the sound quality of the Bowers & Wilkins speakers, even when emphasizing the bass through the equalizer, it was not greatly enhanced. The price starts at 93.9 million KRW and can go up to 101.7 million KRW depending on options.