The BMW i3 sets a true record with nearly 6,000 km and less than three hours of charging
- Published on 13/11/2026 15:31
Connecting Nordkapp to Tarifa with only 2 hours and 46 minutes of charging: this is the performance announced by BMW with its new i3. A demonstration on open roads that tells more about advancements in electric vehicles than a lap time on a circuit.
Electric records are abundant. However, the practical relevance of a maximum speed achieved on a track versus an autonomy recorded on a course designed for the exercise can often be limited. This is why we particularly appreciate the challenge taken up by BMW: crossing Europe while minimizing the time spent charging.
12.5 kWh/100 km across eight countries
Traveling on the Pan-European route, the BMW i3 50 xDrive covered 5,886.7 km from Nordkapp, Norway, to Tarifa, Spain. Highways, secondary roads, and urban passages were on the agenda, with charging exclusively done at public stations.
According to BMW, the average consumption reached only 12.5 kWh/100 km. The total charging time was precisely 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 54 seconds, with an average power of 275 kW. This last piece of data is more interesting to us than the peak of 400 kW announced: it describes the performance actually achieved during the exercise.
A real journey, but a prepared attempt
The experience was meticulously organized. The charging stations were chosen freely, allowing for optimization of the route between the imposed waypoints. An engineer drove the car, accompanied by two support vehicles. BMW nevertheless assures that the equipment and software corresponded fully to the production specifications.
The 2 hours and 46 minutes represent only the charging time, not the entirety of the breaks or the duration of the journey. This distinction matters.
What remains is a concrete demonstration: electric vehicles progress when consumption and charging together enhance travel. These records speak to us because they question usage: how much energy is needed, and how much time is lost recovering it? Questions that are far more useful than a timed lap.
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This page is translated from the original post "La BMW i3 signe un vrai record avec près de 6 000 km et moins de trois heures de recharge" in French.
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