In Q3 of 2022, BMW saw a new high for electric vehicle sales. A total of 4337 fully-electric vehicles were retailed in Q3, up from around 2600 in Q2. That’s a big jump, and it’s just the beginning. The i7 is entering production and more hybrid vehicles are on the way than ever before. Things are moving quickly, and it’s probably got even diehard petrol heads considering: is it time to buy a BMW EV?
It’s a topic worth thinking about. Even as someone who heavily favors the unique joys of internal combustion engines, I’ve considered it myself. Between the unpredictability of gas prices, the stunning performance of vehicles like the i4 M50, and the alluring aspect of the mechanical simplicity EVs offer, one begins to wonder. But there are a lot of things to consider before plunging headfirst into EV ownership.
BMW
Well, sort of. Many EVs are more expensive than their gas-powered counterparts. The BMW i4 M50, for example, starts at $67,300 whereas a gas-powered M440i starts nearly $10,000 lower – $57,450. You can argue that the difference gets made up at the pump – but that’s tricky. Some quick math suggests that somewhere around 55,300 miles – roughly 2,212 gallons of gas later – you’ll have spent that $10,000 in gas. That’s assuming gas prices stay at today’s US average – $4.52 for a gallon of premium.
Yeah, well, they’re out there. Unless you ordered your BMW EV a long time ago, you’re probably buying a vehicle that was ordered by a pre-order customer who got tired of waiting. There’s probably going to be an ADM, and it’s probably going to range from $5,000 – $10,000. They’ll probably budge if you ask, but just remember that it’s definitely making it less and less pragmatic from a cost perspective.
In theory, maintaining a BMW EV should be cheaper. Engine oil changes become a thing of the past, and major engine services disappear. But brakes, cooling systems, and HVAC systems will still need servicing, and there’s nothing indicating they will be any less expensive to fix than their petrol-powered counterparts.
