BMW 530e Touring Plug-In Hybrid: 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 530e Touring PHEV

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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 5 Series is currently on its seventh generation, to include the BMW 530e plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The BMW 5 Series has been manufactured since 1972. The BMW PHEV is available both as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) and 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 530e plug-in estate electric car is certainly worth the consideration.

The BMW Touring plug-in hybrid, has much is common with the BMW 530e saloon PHEV, albeit the estate is more practical and family-friendly, despite the reduced boot size (430 L) due to the placement on the EV battery. 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 34 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 range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car, 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 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 2.5 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 4 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 530e Touring PHEV can deliver up to 176.6 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 5 Series plug-in electric car. The claimed tailpipe-emissions is up to 47 (CO2/km). The lower the emissions, the lower the local air pollution. A win-win for all!

The performance of the BMW 5 Series demonstrates its capability as a good all-rounder. The 5 Series hybrid pairs the BMW 80 kW eDrive (electric drive technology) with a 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) petrol engine. Top speed of the car on electric mode is 86 mph, sufficient for both urban and rural driving. For motorway driving, the EV can take advantage of the petrol engine propulsion (top speed: 139 mph).

The EV is reasonably quick, despite the extra weight of the onboard EV battery. It can achieve 0-62 mph in 6.1 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. Bottom-line 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
Decent driving performance and cheap to run on electric mode	Small EV battery and limited electric range
Good exterior design, styling and high quality interior	Higher tailpipe emissions compared to more recent PHEVs
One of the few upmarket plug-in estate electric cars	Not as efficient as some newer PHEVs

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The BMW 530e Touring Plug-In Hybrid (credit: BMW)

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Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. As an example, in India, filling a full tank of fuel for the internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata Nexon SUV will cost up to Rs 5,000 (assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 100. The Tata Nexon has a fuel tank capacity of 44 L).

In comparison, the Tata Nexon Pure Electric SUV will cost less than Rs 300 for a full EV battery charge (EV Battery size: 30.2 kWh). In India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh(unit). Therefore the cost to drive per km (or mile) in a pure electric vehicle is substantially lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

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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 (2 Options)
BMW 530e M Sport Touring
BMW 530e xDrive M Sport Touring

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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%: 2.5 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	47-35g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 100,000 miles

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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):	1498
Width (mm):	1868
Length (mm):	4963
Wheelbase (mm):	2975
Boot capacity (L):	430

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BMW 530e M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	32 – 34 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):	3.5 – 3.6
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	176.6
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	139 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:	6.1 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	80
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	1,975
Colours:	10
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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BMW 530e xDrive M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:	11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	30 – 32 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):	3.2 – 3.3
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	156.9
Charging:	DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2.5 hrs)
Top Speed:	139 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:	6.1 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	80
Max Power (hp):	292
Torque (Nm):	300
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,035
Colours:	10
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)

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The past few years, in particular, 2020 and 2021, have witnessed a phenomenal increase in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Major global economies, to include, the United States and the European Union, have documented a surge in the sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In many of these countries, lower emission to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) now account for up to 15% of annual new vehicle registrations, and in some countries like Norway, even greater than 50%.

This is not a short-term trend. Instead, it is the emergence of a long-term shift towards cleaner forms of travel. Though there are many reasons to own an electric vehicle (EV), we list below some of the key reasons fuelling consumer demand for EVs.

1). Vast choice of electric vehicles

It is true, that in India, the choice of electric vehicles is still restricted, compared to international markets. In India, we have access to only up to 15 electric vehicle models to include the MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona, Jaguar I-PACE and the Tata Nexon EV. However, in many of the matured international markets, the choice of pure electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars are up to 200 models. We expect this to only increase! However, we do hope India will see an increase in the variety and supply of EVs on sale, giving consumers a greater choice.

2). Increased zero-emission range

The emission-free driving range of electric cars have improved significantly in recent years, and the latest models of EVs can achieve well over 200 miles (WLTP), if not over 300 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. In general, EV battery size and efficiency have improved. As an example, the all-electric Kia e-Niro compact SUV has a range of 282 miles. The best-selling pure electric Nissan Leaf has an electric range of 239 miles on a single charge. Of course, the likes of Tesla electric cars have a range well over 300 miles on a single charge!

3). Increased public charging infrastructure

Yes, it is true that the public charging infrastructure in India is at a nascent stage, but in a number of international markets, AC fast charging and DC rapid charging stations are now widespread. As an example, in the UK, there are as many public charging stations as there are petrol pumps! This increase in charging accessibility has driven confidence in consumers who were hesitant to migrate to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars i.e. no more range anxiety! Of course, many homes in the UK also have a dedicated EV charger. For EVs to succeed in India, the deployment of public and home EV charging infrastructure is mandatory.

4). Lower running and maintenance costs

Electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The lower number of moving parts has reduced the maintenance burden of EVs, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Electric cars are also cheap to drive. At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

5). Lower air pollution

However, in our view the greatest benefit of driving electric vehicles, in particular, pure electric vehicles, is the absence of tailpipe emissions. Electric cars do not even have a tailpipe! Zero-emission electric driving has a real and immediate impact on local air quality i.e. reducing air pollution. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have reduced tailpipe pollution compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.

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