The All-Electric BMW i7 Saloon: 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 i7 Electric Saloon

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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 BMW i3 EV is an excellent example of a successful pure electric car. The company currently has the following portfolio of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs):

• The all-electric BMW iX3
• The all-electric BMW iX1
• The all-electric BMW i7
• The all-electric BMW iX
• The all-electric BMW i4
• The all-electric BMW i3

The BMW 7 Series, a luxury saloon, has been manufactured since 1977. The vehicle is currently on its sixth generation. The BMW 7 Series is also available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). When it comes to ultra-luxury saloon pure electric cars, the options are limited to the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Porsche electric cars.

For both families and company-car drivers keen on an environmentally-friendly luxury all-electric car, the BMW i7 is worth consideration. Of course, for owners of the conventional BMW 7 series internal combustion engine (ICE) car, the BMW i7 is a natural evolution.

The BMW i7 premium saloon car is available in one EV battery size: 105.7 kWh, and has a claimed pure electric range up to 625 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 zero-emission 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. Expect a real-world electric range closer to 530 km. Still very impressive and certainly class-leading.

As is the case with electric cars, the BMW i7 has an onboard recuperation system that converts the kinetic energy during braking into electricity, further enhancing the efficiency of the electric vehicle and e-range. This is also known as regenerative braking. It does take some getting used to, but not long!

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. Regular charging is also beneficial for the long-term maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 160,000 km, which is fast becoming the industry standard for EVs.

The electric vehicle (EV) can be DC charged up to 195 kW and can achieve a 0%-80% in 34 minutes (6 mins = 62 miles). All variants incorporate a 11 kW (3-phase) onboard charger, which can fully charge the EV in 10 hours and 30 minutes. However, given that most homes in India are restricted to single-phase (7.4 kW) power supply, expect the EV to take longer to charge. At 7.4 kW the EV can achieve a range of 62 miles in 2.27 hours.

The all-wheel drive BMW i7 xDrive60 electric saloon can achieve 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. The electric vehicle delivers a maximum power up to 544 hp and 745 Nm torque. The top speed of the EV is 240 km/h. The EV offers up to 500 L boot space. Interior quality, level of technology and equipment is in line with the premium price tag.

The BMW i7 electric car is available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Good pure electric range	Available in only one EV battery size
DC charging up to 195 kW. Three-phase (11 kW) onboard charger as standard	Not built on a dedicated EV platform
Premium quality and refined drive	Cheaper alternatives available

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The All-Electric BMW i7 Saloon (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:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Body Type:	Saloon
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	Yes

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Variants (1 Option)
BMW i7 xDrive60 M Sport (from Rs 1.95 Cr)

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 105.7 kWh
Charging:	195 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 34 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 10 hrs 30 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (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):	1,544
Width (mm):	1,950
Length (mm):	5,391
Wheelbase (mm):	3,215
Turning Circle (m):	13.1
Boot Space (L):	500

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BMW i7 xDrive60
EV Battery Capacity:	105.7 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	590 – 625 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	19.6 – 18.4
Charging:	195 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 34 mins). Onboard charger 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 10 hrs 30 mins)
Top Speed:	240 km/h
0-100 km/h:	4.7 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	400
Max Power (hp):	544
Torque (Nm):	745
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	4
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):	2,715
Colours:	11
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Cheap Electric Cars Available In India

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Ask any expert on electric vehicles (EVs) the key success factors for the rapid adoption of electric driving. Affordability, range and EV charging infrastructure are always identified as key to the successful uptake of EVs, with affordability taking centre stage in the narrative. This holds true for all countries, to include India.

In fact, it can be argued, that for a country like India, with a GDP per capita of less that US$ 2,000, the need for affordable electric cars is even more pronounced. It is true, in that, driving an electric car per mile, is significantly cheaper than driving an internal combustion engine (ICE) petrol or diesel vehicle. However, apart from running and maintenance costs, the purchase cost is also a key determinant in the decision making of a buyer.

Though India has witnessed an increase in activity in the introduction of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), the price tag for the majority of pure electric cars (also known as BEVs), is beyond the reach of most families and businesses in India. As an example, the phenomenally fast (and good looking) Audi RS e-tron GT BEV is priced at Rs 2.05 crores. It is simply only ‘affordable’ for a very small percentage of the consumer base in India.

For the adoption of electric driving to gather momentum in India, the introduction and availability of cheaper electric cars is vital! The availability of EVs priced below Rs 20 lakhs will be instrumental in encouraging buyers to migrate to electric driving. Despite the lack of affordable electric cars in India, there is a glimmer of hope, in that, there are a few affordable pure electric cars currently available in India. We would encourage local and global automotive manufacturers to develop and introduce electric vehicles better suited for the family budget in India. Moreover, the support of government subsidies and grants will also be important in the uptake of EVs in India.

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EV	Type Of EV	Price
Hyundai Kona Electric	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 23.79 Lakhs
MG ZS EV	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 21.49 Lakhs
Tata Tigor EV	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 11.99 Lakhs
Tata Nexon	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)	Rs 14.24 Lakhs

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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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