• The i4 isn’t that efficient for an electric car
• Running costs still low compared to a petrol…
• Big battery pack means a competitive driving range

What are the running costs?

As an electric car, the BMW i4’s running costs depend almost entirely on where and how you charge it up. You’ll get the cheapest rates charging at home, especially if you’re on a tariff that gives you special rates for off-peak usage. Conversely, if you use pricey public charging, your costs will go up accordingly.

Depending on version, the i4 comes with a 70.3kWh or 83kWh battery. That result is a claimed 260 to 306 miles with the smaller unit and a claimed range of up to 299 miles for the high-powered M50 model, or up to 366 miles in the more efficient eDrive40, both using the bigger battery.

In our experience with the M50, we saw a range in excess of 200 miles at a fast motorway cruise. Although this sounds like a big drop from the claimed figure, it’s actually quite good and makes this a useful car for long distances. It means that the i4 isn’t actually all that efficient by electric car standards, with an efficiency of around 2.5 miles per kWh. This may become more important as energy costs rise. Still, in context with other premium EVs, it’s not too bad.

The eDrive 40 offers even greater range in the real world and, driven gently, you’ll see more than 300 miles. In more mixed driving we’ve seen around 280 miles as an average. All i4s are equipped to make use of a super-fast 205kW DC charger, which in theory is capable of taking the battery from empty to 80% in 34 minutes.

If charging at home, you’re more likely to have access to a 7kW AC charger, which will need 13 hours for 0-100%. Faster 11kW AC takes 8.3 hours, while a regular plug will need as long as 43.5 hours(!)

Servicing and warranty

BMW offers a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty with free roadside assistance. That’s good news for particularly high-mileage drivers and, though the time period isn’t particularly generous, it’s comparable to the three years/60k mile terms you’d get on a Polestar 2 or the four years/unlimited mile warranty of a Tesla Model 3. You also get eight years and 100,000 miles coverage for the battery pack itself, protecting you against loss of capacity.

BMW servicing plans are available to cover scheduled maintenance, but out-of-plan servicing will likely be quite pricey at a BMW main dealer.

Reliability

It’s still a bit early to discuss the reliability of the BMW i4, which uses a whole new electric architecture. But these types of cars have typically proven to be mechanically sound, with few moving parts to worry about. Just keep an eye out for software foibles in that sophisticated infotainment system.