BMW 330e Touring Plug-In Hybrid Estate: The Complete Guide For The UK

The BMW 330e Plug-In Hybrid
Price: £44,935
Type of electric vehicle: Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body type: Estate
Battery size: 11.15 kWh
Electric range (WLTP): 32 - 37 miles
Tailpipe emissions: 42 - 32g (CO2/km)


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):



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The BMW 330e Touring PHEV Estate


The BMW 3 Series is currently on its sixth generation. The BMW 330e Touring plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) is available as a rear-wheel drive (RWD) and also as an all-wheel drive (AWD).

Though automotive manufacturers like BMW, have been busy upgrading their model portfolios, to include plug-in hybrids, in general, the number of available estate plug-in electric cars, still remains limited, in particular, in the premium-priced segment. Therefore, the BMW 330e plug-in estate electric car is certainly worth the consideration.

The BMW Touring plug-in hybrid, has much is common with the BMW 330e saloon PHEV, albeit the estate is more practical and family-friendly, despite the reduced boot size due to the placement on the EV battery (410 L). Both EVs have a similar battery size and drivetrain.

The estate PHEV has a 11.15 kWh onboard EV battery, with a fuel-free zero-tailpipe emission range up to 37 miles (WLTP). Of course, do keep in mind that the real-world EV range will be lower than the WLTP certified range, and assuming a 30 mile pure electric range is more realistic.

The real-world range will impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, passenger and cargo load, speed, regenerative braking, onboard services used, road conditions and of course the weather!

However, the Touring PHEV offers ample e-range to take advantage of the lower cost of driving an electric car. Depending on where and when you charge the EV, the cost of electric driving will be between 5 pence and 10 pence per mile. Far cheaper compared to driving using a petrol or diesel combustion engine.

Also, the best way to enjoy the smoother and silent electric mode, is to make sure that the EV battery is ‘topped up’ on a regular basis. This also helps with the long-term health and maintenance of the EV battery. BMW offers a 8 years or 100,000 miles warranty.

The EV has a 3.7 kW AC onboard charger, which is disappointing, given the premium price tag. A 7.4 kW onboard charger should have been incorporated as standard. Nevertheless, do take advantage of the faster and safer charging using a dedicated EV charger like Wallbox.

The BMW electric car can be fully charged in 3.5 hours. We at e-zoomed discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug for EV charging. Using a domestic plug will take up to 5.5 hours to charge the EV. The PHEV does not offer fast DC charging compatibility.

The more a PHEV is driven on EV mode, the better is the overall efficiency and fuel economy of the vehicle. BMW claims that the BMW 330e Touring PHEV can deliver up to 201.8 mpg. Of course, the real-world fuel consumption will depend on how well you leverage the use of the electric motor/ EV battery. The more, the better!

Like all PHEVs, the pairing of an electric motor with the internal combustion engine (ICE), also helps reduce the tailpipe-emissions for the BMW 3 Series plug-in electric car. The claimed tailpipe-emissions is up to 42 (CO2/km). The lower the emissions, the lower the local air pollution. A win-win for all! Moreover, company-car drivers can take advantage of the lower Benefit-in-Kind (BiK-12%) tax rates for PHEVs.

The performance of the 2.0-litre (four-cylinder) BMW 3 Series demonstrates its capability as a good all-rounder. Top speed of the car on electric mode is 86 mph, sufficient for both urban and rural driving (top speed using the combustion engine is 142 mph). The EV is quick, despite the extra EV battery weight. It can achieve 0-62 mph in 5.9 seconds (maximum power: 292 hp). The EV also benefits from instant torque.

The BMW Touring PHEV has a good quality interior, as would be expected from a premium-badged EV. In terms of technology, the EV includes: BMW head-up display, BMW curved-display, BMW digital key, reversing assistant, BMW intelligent personal assistant and a lot more. Bottom-line the drivers cockpit is modern, intuitive and practical.

Though the plug-in electric car does not qualify for the UK government plug-in car grant (PiCG), driving the EV on electric mode will result in material financial savings.

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
High quality family estate electric car Small EV battery and limited electric range
Ample room for passengers and luggage capacity Cheaper alternative estate PHEVs
Cheap to run on electric mode Onboard charger limited to 3.7 kW. DC charging not availale

Gallery


The BMW 330e Touring Plug-In Hybrid Estate (credit: BMW)


At A Glance
EV Type:Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:Estate
Plug-In Car Grant (PiCG):Not Available
Engine:Petrol-Electric
Available In UK:Yes

Variants (4 Options)
BMW 330e M Sport Touring (from £44,935)
BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Touring (from £46,485)
BMW 330e M Sport Pro Edition Touring (from £49,435)
BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Edition Touring (from £50,985)

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:42 – 32g (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):1442
Width (mm):1827
Length (mm):4709
Wheelbase (mm):2851
Turning Circle (m):11.4
Boot capacity (L):410

BMW 330e M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):34 – 37 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):3.6 – 3.8
Fuel Consumption (MPG):176.6 – 201.8
Charging: DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:142 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:5.9 seconds
Drive: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):83
Max Power (hp):292
Torque (Nm): 300
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):1,905
Colours:5
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Touring
EV Battery Capacity:11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):32 – 34 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):3.4 – 3.6
Fuel Consumption (MPG):156.9 – 176.6
6Charging: DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:142 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:5.9 seconds
Drive: All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):83
Max Power (hp):292
Torque (Nm): 300
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):1,965
Colours:6
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

BMW 330e M Sport Pro Edition Touring
EV Battery Capacity:11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):34 – 36 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):3.6 – 3.7
Fuel Consumption (MPG):176.6 – 188.3
Charging: DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:142 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:5.9 seconds
Drive: Rear-wheel drive (RWD)
Electric Motor (kW):83
Max Power (hp):292
Torque (Nm): 300
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):1,905
Colours:3
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

BMW 330e xDrive M Sport Pro Edition Touring
EV Battery Capacity:11.15 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):32 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (miles/kWh):3.4 – 3.5
Fuel Consumption (MPG):156.9
Charging: DC charging not available. Onboard charger 3.7 kW AC (0% – 100%: 3.5 hrs)
Top Speed:142 mph (electric mode: 86 mph)
0-62 mph:5.9 seconds
Drive: All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):83
Max Power (hp):292
Torque (Nm): 300
Transmission:Automatic
Seats:5
Doors:5
Unladen Weight-EU (kg):1,965
Colours:3
NCAP Safety Rating:Five-Star

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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Author

Ashvin Suri

Ashvin has been involved with the renewables, energy efficiency and infrastructure sectors since 2006. He is passionate about the transition to a low-carbon economy and electric transportation. Ashvin commenced his career in 1994, working with US investment banks in New York. Post his MBA from the London Business School (1996-1998), he continued to work in investment banking at Flemings (London) and JPMorgan (London). His roles included corporate finance advisory, M&A and capital raising. He has been involved across diverse industry sectors, to include engineering, aerospace, oil & gas, airports and automotive across Asia and Europe. In 2010, he co-founded a solar development platform, for large scale ground and roof solar projects to include, the UK, Italy, Germany and France. He has also advised on various renewable energy (wind and solar) utility scale projects working with global institutional investors and independent power producers (IPP’s) in the renewable energy sector. He has also advised in key international markets like India, to include advising large-scale industrial and automotive group in India. Ashvin has also advised Indian Energy, an IPP backed by Guggenheim (a US$ 165 billion fund). He has also advised a US$ 2 billion, Singapore based group. Ashvin has also worked in the real estate and infrastructure sector, to including working with the Matrix Group (a US$ 4 billion property group in the UK) to launch one of the first few institutional real estate funds for the Indian real estate market. The fund was successfully launched with significant institutional support from the UK/ European markets. He has also advised on water infrastructure, to include advising a Swedish clean technology company in the water sector. He has also been involved with a number of early stage ventures.

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