Overview
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
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The BMW 745e Saloon PHEV
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 available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).
When it comes to ultra-luxury saloon plug-in electric cars, few can compete with the Mercedes S-Class PHEV, except if the competitor is BMW! The 745e PHEV is a good alternative to the S-Class PHEV, albeit with a slightly lower price tag.
No doubt, the introduction of the 7 Series plug-in hybrid variant has been a good move by the German automotive group, making the EV attractive for both private and company-car owners, given the reduced tailpipe emissions (48 CO2/km) and the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-12%) tax rate for the PHEV.
However, given the upmarket price for the 7 Series PHEV, the size of the onboard EV battery (11.15 kWh), onboard charger (3.7 kW) and emission-free electric range (32 miles) is disappointing.
Yes, it is true that the average distance travelled per day in the UK is a mere 30 miles, and even given that the real-world electric range of the BMW 745e PHEV (closer to 25 miles), is sufficient for most shorter urban trips, a larger EV battery could be leveraged for motorway driving, to further enhance the fuel economy of the vehicle.
BMW claims a fuel economy up to 141.2 mpg, but to achieve this, the EV has to be driven sufficiently on EV mode. It is worth noting that the latest plug-in electric cars have far more efficient engines. Moreover, by driving the BMW electric car on EV mode, the driving cost per mile is reduced significantly. The driving costs per mile for an EV is between 5 pence and 10 pence per mile, significantly cheaper than using the internal combustion engine (ICE).
For the BMW premium-badge, a 7.4 kW onboard charger should have come as standard with the EV. However, given the smaller EV battery size, the 3.7 kW onboard charger will suffice, though, will take longer to charge the electric vehicle (up to 3.5 hours).
The EV can be charged using a domestic 3-PIN socket, however, we at e-zoomed encourage charging via a dedicated home EV charging point, like Easee. The EV does not offer fast DC charging.
In any case, the plug-in electric car can be charged overnight at home, and we recommend EV drivers to develop a habit of ‘topping up’ the EV battery charge on a regular basis. This way, the EV can be driven as much as possible on the electric mode and also better for the overall health and maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles warranty.
The rear-wheel drive (RWD) plug-in electric saloon pairs the BMW 83 kW (eDrive electric drive technology), with a 3.0-litre (six-cylinder) petrol engine. Despite the additional weight of the EV battery, the EV can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.2 seconds (maximum power: 394 hp). Top speed in EV mode is 86 mph and using the combustion engine, the top speed is 155 mph.
In terms of practicality, the boot space is slightly impacted by the placement of the EV battery and offers 420 L cargo volume. However, there is the usual excellent headroom and legroom for passengers. The interior is top-quality and is technology-laden.
Executive Nappa leather upholstery comes as standard, ambient lighting, BMW intelligent personal assistant, remote software updates, driving assistant professional, steering and lane control assistant, and a lot more.
The PHEV does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG). Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet. You can lease electric vehicles (EVs) via e-zoomed at very competitive prices!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A comfortable drive and quality build (exterior and interior) | An expensive PHEV with a limited electric range |
| Good infotainment system | An outdated exterior styling for some consumers |
| Cheap to run on electric mode | Onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW. DC charging not available |
Gallery
The BMW 745e Plug-In Hybrid Saloon (credit: BMW)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Saloon |
| Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG): | Not Available |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In UK: | Yes |
| Variants (1 Option) |
|---|
| BMW 745e M Sport Saloon (from £85,350) |
| 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: | 48 – 45g (CO2/km) |
| EV Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 100,000 miles |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | £1.27 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | £1.67 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | £1.73 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | £1.89 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | £2.03 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in the UK varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for the UK is 14.40 p/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| 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) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1467 |
| Width (mm): | 1902 |
| Length (mm): | 5120 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 3070 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 12.3 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 420 |
| BMW 745e M Sport Saloon | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 11.15 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 30 – 32 miles |
| Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh): | 3.3 – 3.4 |
| Fuel Consumption (MPG): | 134.5 – 141.2 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 155 mph (electric mode: 86 mph) |
| 0-62 mph: | 5.2 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 83 |
| Max Power (hp): | 394 |
| Torque (Nm): | 450 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Unladen Weight-EU (kg): | 2,075 |
| Colours: | 9 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | N/A |
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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