BMW X5 plug-in hybrid charging

The X5 xDrive45e SUV pairs an electric motor with a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged six-cylinder engine to produce 394 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque. That’s a lot of power and off-road capability for a family-friendly all-wheel-drive vehicle that gets the equivalent of more than 50 miles per gallon on many daily commutes.

For the 2021 X5, the second generation of the BMW SUV plug-in hybrid, the all-electric range has been increased to 31 miles, based on BMW doubling the size of the battery pack from 12 kWh to 24 kWh. The official EPA efficiency number for the 2021 X5 clocks in at 50 MPGe for combined city/highway driving.

In typical BMW fashion, the X5 xDrive45e is fast. It launches from zero to 60 miles per hour in about five seconds. Drivers can travel up to 84 miles per hour while staying in pure electric mode.

The larger battery in the 2021 X5 plug-in hybrid is estimated to go about 30 miles on battery power alone. From 2016 through 2020, the X5—which had been named the xDrive40e—only managed 14 miles of all-electric range.

The jump to 31 miles is a big deal because it allows many commuters to complete a day’s worth of driving without using any gasoline. The X5’s “Electric” mode ensures that the gas engine stays off, and the electric motor is powering the wheels.

BMW estimates that a full charge using the X5 xDrive45e’s 3.7 kW charger takes just over five hours. This is based on using a capable 240-volt, Level 2 home charging station, such as the JuiceBox 32. Depending on several factors, the xDrive45e will add between about six and 10 miles of range per hour of charging.

Plug-in hybrids offer drivers the ability to make long-distance road trips with quick gasoline fill-ups. The total range of the X5 xDrive45e is more than 500 miles.

However, local daily driving up to 30 miles can be purely electric. And for commuters with the ability to charge during the day, plugging in with the JuiceBox 32 for a few hours will extend the daily electric range even further.