BMW 330e Touring Plug-In Hybrid Estate: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The BMW 330e Touring PHEV Estate

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BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), is a leading global automotive manufacturer headquartered in Munich, Germany. BMW is well known for its portfolio of luxury vehicles, to include the famed Rolls-Royce luxury cars. The group manufacturers a number of cars under its BMW brand, to include battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The company currently has the following portfolio of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs):

• BMW 225xe Active Tourer PHEV
• BMW 330e Saloon PHEV
• BMW 330e Touring PHEV
• BMW 530e Saloon PHEV
• BMW 530e Touring PHEV
• BMW 745e PHEV
• BMW X1 xDrive25e PHEV
• BMW X2 xDrive25e PHEV
• BMW X3 xDrive30e PHEV
• BMW X5 xDrive45e PHEV

The BMW 3 Series is currently on its sixth generation. The BMW 330e Touring plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is available as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) and also as an all-wheel drive (AWD).

Though automotive manufacturers like BMW, have been busy upgrading their model portfolios, to include plug-in hybrids, in general, the number of available estate plug-in electric cars, still remains limited, in particular, in the premium-priced segment. Therefore, the BMW 330e plug-in estate electric car is certainly worth the consideration.

The BMW Touring plug-in hybrid, has much is common with the BMW 330e saloon PHEV, albeit the estate is more practical and family-friendly, despite the reduced boot size due to the placement on the EV battery (410 L). Both EVs have a similar battery size and drivetrain.

The estate PHEV has a 11.15 kWh onboard EV battery, with a fuel-free zero-tailpipe emission range up to 37 miles (WLTP). Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world EV range will be lower than the WLTP certified range, and assuming a 30 mile pure electric range is more realistic. The real-world range will impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, passenger and cargo load, speed, regenerative braking, onboard services used, road conditions and of course the weather!

However, the Touring PHEV offers ample e-range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car, which is far cheaper compared to driving using a petrol or diesel combustion engine. Also, the best way to enjoy the smoother and silent electric mode, is to make sure that the EV battery is ‘topped up’ on a regular basis. This also helps with the long-term health and maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles warranty.

The EV has a 3.7 kW AC onboard charger, which is disappointing, given the premium price tag. A 7.4 kW onboard charger should have been incorporated as standard. Nevertheless, do take advantage of the faster and safer charging using a dedicated EV charger like Wallbox.

The BMW electric car can be fully charged in 3.5 hours. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for EV charging. Using a domestic plug will take up to 5.5 hours to charge the EV. The PHEV does not offer fast DC charging compatibility.

The more a PHEV is driven on EV mode, the better is the overall efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle. BMW claims that the BMW 330e Touring PHEV can deliver up to 201.8 mpg. Of course, the real-world fuel consumption will depend on how well you leverage the use of the electric motor/ EV battery. The more, the better!

Like all PHEVs, the pairing of an electric motor with the internal combustion engine (ICE), also helps reduce the tailpipe-emissions for the BMW 3 Series plug-in electric car. The claimed tailpipe-emissions is up to 42 (CO2/km). The lower the emissions, the lower the local air pollution. A win-win for all!

The performance of the 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) BMW 3 Series demonstrates its capability as a good all-rounder. Top speed of the car on electric mode is 86 mph, sufficient for both urban and rural driving (top speed using the combustion engine is 142 mph). The EV is quick, despite the extra EV battery weight. It can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds (maximum power: 292 hp). The EV also benefits from instant torque.

The BMW Touring PHEV has a good quality interior, as would be expected from a premium-badged EV. In terms of technology, the EV includes: BMW head-up display, BMW curved-display, BMW digital key, reversing assistant, BMW intelligent personal assistant and a lot more. The drivers cockpit is modern, intuitive and practical.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The BMW electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
High quality family estate electric car	Small EV battery and limited electric range
Ample room for passengers and luggage capacity	Cheaper alternative estate PHEVs
Cheap to run on electric mode	Onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW. DC charging not available

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The BMW 330e Touring Plug-In Hybrid Estate (credit: BMW)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Vehicle Type:	Estate
Engine:	Petrol-Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (1 Option)
BMW 330e (from ₹ N/A)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size (11.15 kWh)
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	42 – 32g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1442
Width (mm):	1827
Length (mm):	4709
Wheelbase (mm):	2851
Turning Circle (m):	N/A
Boot capacity (L):	410

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BMW 330e M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	48 – 61 km
Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh):	N/A
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.4 − 1.9
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	230 km/h (electric mode: 138 km/h)
0-100 km/h:	5.9 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	83
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,905
Colours:	5
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	48 – 61 km
Electric Energy Consumption (km/kWh):	N/A
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.6 − 2.1
6Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	230 km/h (electric mode: 138 km/h)
0-100 km/h:	5.9 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	83
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,965
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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BMW 330e M Sport Pro Edition Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	48 – 61 km
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):	N/A
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.6 − 2.1
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	230 km/h (electric mode: 138 km/h)
0-100 km/h:	5.9 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	83
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,905
Colours:	3
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Edition Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	48 – 61 km
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):	N/A
Fuel Consumption (l/100km):	1.6 − 2.1
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	230 km/h (electric mode: 138 km/h)
0-100 km/h:	5.9 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	83
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,965
Colours:	3
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Air Quality: The Basics

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It does not matter where in India one lives, no one can escape the increased level of air pollution engulfing our villages, towns and cities, across the country. However, this is not unique to India.

Air pollution has been documented globally as one of the key issues in increased mortality rates, in particular, for those that are most vulnerable: the children and the aged. Increased air pollution has been linked to increases in premature deaths, higher rates of cancer, heart attacks, stroke and lung diseases.   

In India, air quality worsens closer to more densely populated urban centres, the 1st, 2^nd and 3^rd tier cities. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru are just some of the examples of cities with dangerous levels of toxic air pollution or poor air quality. In fact, air pollution levels have been so high in India in the recent years, that it has captured the attention of the world media. 

Many factors affect the level of air pollution, but one that is significant, is the pollution released from road transportation, commonly referred to as ‘emissions’ or tailpipe emissions. For the majority of the globe, to include, India, emissions from petrol and diesel vehicles contribute more than 30% to air pollution. This is an average, and certainly, in more populated cities like Delhi and Mumbai, the level of toxic contribution from vehicle exhausts will be even higher. The other major contributor to air pollution is energy production and consumptions (fossil fuels).  

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So, what is air pollution?

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• Air pollution is the release of pollutants in our atmosphere that have a negative impact on the health of individuals and the environment as a whole. 

• The majority of pollutants are invisible. The are minutely small particles (finely divided solids) or gases that cannot be seen with the naked eye. These extremely small solid or liquid particles are also called particulates. Examples are: fumes, smoke, dust and soot. The majority of these particulates are less than 10 micrometres.    

• Air pollution can affect the environment both outdoors and indoors. There are a number of different types of pollutants, but the most well known are particulate matter, carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.  

• Both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NO2), contribute to smog formation, very common in the winter months. Sulphur dioxide (SO2) contributes to haze and also acid rain formation. Particulate matters also contributes to haze and acid rain. All the above negatively impact health by increasing irritation of breathing passages, aggravation of asthma and irregular heartbeat. 

• Pollutants like carbon dioxide have a far reaching consequence on our lives. It is not only air pollution that it impacts, but as being a major source of greenhouse gas, CO2 has a long-term and detrimental impact on our environment and ecosystem. More commonly refereed to as ‘climate change’.

• Most of us know in India are familiar with PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter). These are tiny particles or droplets that are two and one half microns or less in width. A micron is a unit of measurement of length equal to one millionth of a metre. An increase in levels of PM 2.5 concentrations result in an increase in unhealthy air quality, haze etc. Vehicle exhausts are a major contributor to higher levels of PM 2.5 in the air.    

• Though measures like reducing traffic (odd-even system in Delhi), wearing air masks etc. can help reduce the impact of pollution, the reduction is not far-reaching. Zero-emission road transportation i.e. electric cars, are a panacea for a sustained and comprehensive improvement in air quality. The sooner, we in India, migrate to electric vehicles, the sooner can we start to improve our local air quality.  

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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