BMW iX3's latest teaser focuses on 400+ kW charging

Electric cars are becoming common sights on roads worldwide, but a key factor for many potential owners remains how quickly these vehicles can recharge. China leads the way in developing fast-charging infrastructure, setting a high bar for other markets, but BMW is trying to close the gap with a new wave of EVs promising charging speeds that could change how we think about long-distance travel.

BMW's upcoming Neue Klasse platform moves beyond current EV designs, bringing advancements in motors, batteries, and charging capabilities. At the heart of this improvement is an 800V electrical system, a technology seen in a few premium EVs but now becoming more central to mainstream electric models.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BMW Group (@bmwgroup)

The latest teaser video from BMW reveals a camouflaged prototype of the new iX3, the first model to launch on the Neue Klasse platform, demonstrating impressive charging performance. The video showed the iX3 briefly reaching a peak charging rate of 403 kW, a figure just above its promised 400 kW rates.

This speed translates into practical benefits for drivers: BMW states the iX3 can add up to 217 miles of WLTP range in just 10 minutes. For context, this is more than double the range added in the same amount of time by BMW's current CLAR platform-based EVs. A 10% to 80% charge can be achieved in 20 minutes. The new iX3 also promises a much longer overall range. BMW indicates that the iX3 will offer up to 497 miles of WLTP range. This is about 62 miles more than the larger BMW iX, despite the iX having a bigger battery.

For the North American market, the iX3 will feature a native NACS (North American Charging Standard) port. This is different from the Euro-spec prototype seen in the video, which uses a CCS2 (Combined Charging System 2) port. The iX3 models destined for North America will be built at BMW's San Luis Potosi factory in Mexico, while models for Europe will come from BMW's new facility in Hungary.

Concerns about compatibility with existing charging infrastructure are often raised with new technologies like 800-volt systems. BMW confirmed that while the iX3 uses an 800V system, it remains compatible with more common 400V charging stations, meaning drivers can still use any DC charger, albeit at slower speeds than the iX3's maximum capability.

Source