auto news desk, In a sign of times to come, BMW has revealed the all-electric i5 sedan at the global debut of the new 5 Series. The i5 is the first fully electric model of BMW’s popular sedan and will be available for sale overseas by the end of 2023. In two different engines.
The weight of both the variants of BMW i5 is more than two tonnes.
At the heart of the BMW i5 is its 81.2 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is the same on both the variants of the electric sedan. The battery, which consists of four modules with 72 battery cells and three modules with 12 cells each, is designed to fit flat under the floor of the 5 Series, and BMW says the interior space for the i5 has been ensured the same. Its dimensions were adapted to ICE engine as in the 5 Series. This battery enables a range of over 500 km for both models, with the Motor eDrive40 having a range of up to 582 km, while the M60 xDrive has a range of 516 km.
The i5 eDrive40 uses a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle, which develops 308 bhp of max power and 400 Nm of peak torque. Power figures are 335 bhp and 430 Nm of torque with ‘sport boost’ or launch control. BMW says that the single-motor variant can do 0-100 kmph in six seconds and will come with a top speed of 193 kmph.
The double screen setup in the cabin remains the same as the standard 5 Series
In comparison, the i5 M60 xDrive also features a front electric motor, which enables all-wheel drive. The combined makes 509 bhp and 795 Nm of torque, which goes up to 593 bhp and 820 Nm of torque when in ‘Sport’ mode or launch control is activated. The i5 M60 is capable of accelerating from 0-100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds, and comes with a top speed of 230 kmph.
The i5 has a ‘Max Range’ drive mode, which limits the top speed to 90 kmph and deactivates the air conditioning and seat ventilation. This mode is designed to increase the i5’s range by up to 25 percent, in situations where the owner is forced to seek an alternative charging station.
Panoramic glass roof will be available for i5 buyers
As standard, the BMW i5 is designed for 11 kW AC charging, which takes around 8 hours and 25 minutes to charge from 0-100 percent. Customers will have the option of opting for a 22 kW wallbox charger, which will reduce that time to 4 hours 25 minutes. The i5 is also designed to accept DC fast-charging of up to 205 kW. The BMW i5 is likely to come to India, just like all battery-powered BMWs till now. The BMW i5 is expected to hit the market sometime in 2024, which will slot somewhere between the i4 (₹73.90-₹77.50 lakh) and the i7 (₹1.95 crore) sedans.