BMW 530e hybrid range, MPG, CO2 & charging
With a pure-electric range of over 30 miles and CO2 emissions as low as 31g/km, the 530e will be very cheap to run – provided you charge it regularly
| Model | Electric range | Fuel economy | CO2 emissions | Charge time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 530e | 36-37 miles | 188-202mpg | 31-34g/km | 3hrs 36mins (0-100%, 3.7kW) |
| 530e xDrive | 32-34 miles | 157-177mpg | 37-40g/km | 3hrs 36mins (0-100%, 3.7kW) |
The BMW 530e will go far enough on electric power to satisfy the average commuter, while its CO2 emissions make for very low company-car tax. The 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine should also deliver reasonable economy of somewhere near 40mpg once the battery has been depleted.
BMW 530e hybrid range, MPG & CO2 emissions
The BMW 530e’s official pure-electric range of between 32 and 37 miles (depending on exact specification) is on par with most plug-in hybrid rivals. In real-world use, you’ll more likely see about 25 miles in colder weather or if you venture onto the motorway, while warm weather will see that creep up further.
As with most plug-ins, the BMW can hold the battery's charge until you want to use it. It also has a clever feature that allows you to hold a specific percentage of charge. It’s a good idea to do this on faster roads, when the petrol engine will return its best economy. You can then fall back on the pure-electric ‘Max eDrive’ mode for city driving, where electric motors are most efficient.
The petrol economy you get after the charge is used up might disappoint. We saw only 29mpg from the 530e in varied use (excluding electric running). You won't do much better than that in the Mercedes E 300 e.
Charge time
It's easy to charge the 530e. It uses a standard Type 2 connector, which works with the vast majority of public, home and workplace charging points and will fill your battery in around three-and-a-half hours. But even if you all have is a standard external three-pin socket at home, that's fine; there's a cable for that too, and it'll still top out the battery in less than six hours, so overnight charging is entirely feasible.
