The BMW i4 Electric (Gran Coupé): The Complete Electric Car Buying Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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

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The All-Electric BMW i4 Gran Coupe

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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 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):

• All-electric BMW iX3 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX1 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX2 (BEV)
• All-Electric BMW i5 (BEV)
• All-Electric BMW i7 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW iX (BEV)
• All-electric BMW i4 (BEV)
• All-electric BMW i3 (BEV)

The BMW i4, is the first all-electric Gran Coupe. The electric vehicle (EV) is based on the iVision Dynamics concept that made its debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show. The i4 is an electrified powertrain of the 4-series and looks similar to the 4-series Gran Coupe. It is slotted between the BMW i3 hatchback and the BMW i8 sports. The battery-electric vehicle (BEV) is assembled in Munich (Germany) and is the first all-electric saloon for BMW. The i4 includes the fifth generation BMW eDrive Technology.

The pure electric BMW i4 also includes lightweight carbon-fibre construction, which is currently featured in the all-electric BMW i3 and the BMW i8 EV. BMW is deploying a ‘flexible vehicle architecture’ that will be used by both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs). The design has also been inspired by the BMW iNext SUV concept unveiled at the 2018 Frankfurt Motor Show. The BMW i4 is also the first fully-electric Gran Coupé.

The BMW i4 EV is available in one EV battery size: 80.7 kWh, and has a claimed pure electric range up to 590 km for the entry-level eDrive40 Sport variant (the only variant available in India). For the higher performance i4 M50 variant, the claimed range is up to 510 km. The EV battery size and zero-emission electric range is similar to many of the more recent introductions of pure electric cars i.e. there is a trend of increasing EV battery size and longer electric range.

Of course, the real-world EV range will be lower, impacted by a number of factors, to include: speed, driving profile, regen braking profile, weather conditions, road conditions, tyre size, onboard services used, payload and more. For the entry-level BMW i4 eDrive40 expect a real-world electric range closer to 500 km and for the top of the range BMW i4 M50, expect an e-range closer to 435 km.

We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to charging an electric car. This way, there is always range readily available and moreover, a topping up approach reduces the amount of time required to charge. The electric vehicle (EV) can be DC charged up to 205 kW and can achieve a 10%-80% in 31 minutes.

All variants incorporate a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, which can fully charge the EV in 8 hours and 25 minutes. However, given that most homes in India are restricted to single-phase power supply, expect the EV to take up to 13 hours for a full charge.

The BMW i4 electric car does not disappoint on performance. The range topping all-wheel drive BMW i4 M50 achieves 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. Impressive, given the additional weight of the onboard EV battery. The total unladen weight of the electric car is 2,290 kg.

The M50 delivers a maximum power up to 544 hp (max torque: 795 Nm) and has a 223 km/h top speed. The other two variants (eDrive40 Sport and eDrive40 M Sport) are available as real-wheel drive and can achieve 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds (top speed: 190 km/h).

Though the electric car has much to offer in terms of exterior styling and interior quality, do not expect much in terms of practicality. The sloping roofline does impact the headroom for rear seat passengers, in particular, for taller adults. Legroom can also be a little tight. But again, one is not really buying this car for practicality. It is the performance that matters, and the EV delivers. Having said that, the boot space on offer is still respectable (470 L).

The i4 is certainly a good looking car, further enhanced by the coupé styling. The vertically aligned front kidney supplies the EV with real-time data via sensors and camera, to enhance the driver assistance onboard technology. The BMW i4 has a driver-oriented cockpit and offers the BMW curved display (12.3″ instrument cluster and 14.9″ control display.

The BMW i4 electric car is manufactured using ‘sustainable and green energy’. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!

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PROS	CONS
An attractive exterior coupéstyling	Cheaper alternatives available
Decent EV battery size and emission-free e-range	Rear-headroom impacted by roofline. Rear visibility: blind spots
DC charging up to 205 kW. Three-phase (11 kW) onboard charger as standard	All-wheel drive only available on the top trim

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The All-Electric BMW i4 Gran Coupe (credit: BMW)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Gran Coupe
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	Yes

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Variants (1 Option)
BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport (from Rs 69.90 Lakhs)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 80.7 kWh
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 31 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery 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):	1448
Width (mm):	1852
Length (mm):	4783
Wheelbase (mm):	2856
Turning Circle (m):	N/A
Boot Capacity (L):	470

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BMW i4 eDrive40 Sport
EV Battery Capacity:	80.7 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	590 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	16 – 20
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 31 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	190 km/h
0-100 km/h:	5.7 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	250
Max Power (hp):	340
Torque (Nm):	430
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,125
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i4 eDrive40 M Sport
EV Battery Capacity:	80.7 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	540 – 565 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	N/A
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10-80%: 31 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	190 km/h
0-100 km/h:	5.7 seconds
Drive:	Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	250
Max Power (hp):	340
Torque (Nm):	430
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,125
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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BMW i4 M50
EV Battery Capacity:	80.7 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	415 – 510 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	N/A
Charging:	205 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 31 minutes). Onboard charger: 11 kW (0%-100%: 8 hrs and 25 mins)
Top Speed:	223 km/h
0-100 km/h:	3.9 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	400
Max Power (hp):	544
Torque (Nm):	795
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,290
Colours:	6
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Electric Driving: Top 5 EV Jargons For India

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Despite the increased visibility of EVs in India, the vocabulary (jargon) used in electric driving is still new to consumers. In fact, for many, it can seem daunting and confusing. We have therefore put below some of the more commonly used terms in the EV glossary, to give you an easier introduction to electric driving in India!

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EV Glossary: Top 5
AC/DC (Alternating Current/ Direct Current):	What is AC/ DC current? AC and DC describe the type of ‘current flow’ in a circuit. Put simply, most household appliances, like the kettle, toaster and television, use AC, while the batteries used for remotes, flashlights etc use DC. In fact, all power supplied by the grid to a dwelling or building is AC power. Therefore, an electric car charging at home will use AC power. AC is a form of current invented by Nicholas Tesla that reverses its direction of movement constantly back and forth within the circuit, by changing its magnitude and polarity (between positive and negative), at regular intervals. Such current can easily be transformed from higher voltage to lower voltage. The primary difference between AC and DC is that, DC flows only in one direction.
DoD (Depth-Of-Charge):	What is Depth-Of-Charge? A battery’s Depth-of-Charge is the level of discharge of a battery. As you drive an EV, the battery is discharged. The DoD indicates the % that has been discharged relative to the capacity of a battery. Conversely, a State-of-Charge (SOC), is the percentage of capacity still available in a battery. If you use 25% of your EV battery capacity, then the DoD is 25% and the SOC is 75%. It is recommended not to fully discharge an electric car battery, as this reduces the lifespan of a battery. Automotive manufacturers publish recommend DoD levels for charging, but a charging range between 20% to 80% is ideal.
Earthed/ Grounded:	Users of electrical equipment are protected from electric shocks through a process called earthing. If there is a fault in the electric system, a user can be subject to an electric shock, as the electricity uses part of the body to travel. Earthing protects the user by proving a path for the fault current to reach the earth. As an example, the commonplace household 3-plug pin, has one wire that connects to the earth. Earthing also protects the electrical apparatus from voltage surges etc.
What is CCS charging?	It is a DC (direct current) rapid charging standard/ protocol for charging electric cars. It was introduced in 2011. The CCS standard includes the Type 2 (IEC 62196) connectors, along with two DC connectors (pins), in a single connector pattern (CCS Combo 2) in the electric vehicle (EV), with a total of nine pins. The two DC connectors (pins) are at the bottom, and enable faster DC charging and communication. The communication is between the EV charger and the electric car. Communication is via Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).
What is a Smart EV Charger?	A smart EV charger allows users to remotely monitor, manage and control the charging session. Though smart charging offers a number of benefits, the two key benefits are: energy use optimisation and cost efficiency. Smart chargers optimise the charging session and manages the load safely. A smart EV charger monitors electrical consumption and adjusts the charging session based on the available energy (dynamic load balancing). Smart charging also allow load balancing for locations with multiple EV charging stations. For such EV charging destinations, an operator can choose how best to distribute the available energy capacity across all active EV chargers.

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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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