Last week, I drove my first truly long stretch with the electric vehicle I bought late this summer: 400 km continuously. The route was Lappeenranta – Turku, returning a few days later. Previously, my most frequent long trip had been about 220 kilometers each way (Lappeenranta – Helsinki), and even then, the outside temperature was on the plus side.
Now, at least for one leg of the trip, the thermometer constantly showed over 20 degrees of frost, and I was looking forward to seeing how the car would fare. Previously, when driving the same stretch in a gas car, I’ve stopped 3–4 times during the trip—whether it was for a 15-minute leg-stretching break, a longer meal break, or a bathroom break and buying a drink to take along in the car.
Data for the outbound journey, with my own experiences along the way detailed below. The car is a BMW i4M50.
Outbound journey
When I left home on Thursday, the battery charge was at 83%, as I had already been to work before starting the trip. I hadn’t really planned the trip much further. I knew that the first stop would be at a shopping center nearly 100 km away, where I intended to buy drinks for the road and take a bathroom break if needed.
The first 88 kilometers consumed the battery from 83% → 47%, i.e., 36%. I took a bathroom break and bought a Battery energy drink for the road; after all, there were still 300 kilometers of driving ahead, and it was already 5:00 PM. The break lasted 17 minutes, and the Ionity charger managed to push the battery charge up to 73%. Average charging speed 110 kW—not bad considering the state of charge and the outside temperature.
The second stop was at the Kuninkaantie ABC, 69 kilometers from the previous stop. A bathroom break and grabbing a hot cocoa. The stop lasted 11 minutes, and I managed to charge the battery from 49% → 61%. The average charging speed was a poor 50 kW. The charger was limiting the speed the whole time; all chargers were in use, and the station’s capacity limit was reached. I would have liked to charge longer while stretching my legs, but the charging speed was so bad that I decided to continue.
The next stop occurred 71 km later in Vantaa. I set the car to navigate to a charging station along the way, which was located in the yard of the Solar Foods factory (?). There was no rest area nearby, so I just took a walk in the fresh air. With a 15-minute charge, the battery charge rose from 30% → 53%. Average charging speed 138 kW. That’ll do; it was an Ionity charger.
The fourth stop of the trip was at the Lohja ABC. Upon arrival, there was 36% battery left, so the previous charge could have been skipped. Well, at least I got to stretch my legs so I don’t get blood clots. Hunger was starting to gnaw enough that I had to get some evening snack. A roll + hot cocoa and a bathroom break. During the 33-minute break, the battery charged from 36% → 83%, average charging 76 kW. There were many cars at the station, and the charger was the limiting factor.
From there, the intention was to drive to the trip’s destination in Turku, but my bladder had other ideas. A stop in Paimio after 85 km, and since I stopped anyway, I put the car on charge at the same time. An 8-minute stop, added power to the battery 48% → 63%. Average charging power 141 kW. If only it were always this fast.
There were 32 kilometers left to Turku, and I arrived with a 51% charge.
Total distance: 399 km
Consumption: 27.9 kWh / 100 km
Electricity used: ~112 kWh
Price (at fast charger prices, approx. 35 cents/kWh): 39 €
Driving time: 4h 43min
Stops: 1h 24min
After the trip, I noticed I had been afraid of a low battery charge, which is why the charges started from a minimum level of 30%. The car charges fastest when the battery charge is low, so if the chargers allow, charging would be much faster. The charging curve looks like this in 22-degree frost:
Return journey
The return journey started on Sunday with an 86% charge. On the way, I stopped to charge four times.
The first stop was supposed to be the Lohja ABC. However, the chargers were occupied, so I continued to Espoo to a charger suggested by the car. There, the payment terminal on the only free post didn’t work, but after a few minutes of wondering, another charger became free, and I was able to charge. While charging, I went to the store to buy a chocolate bar as a snack for the car. The stop lasted 28 minutes, 21% → 69%. Average charging speed 106 kW.
The second stop was at the Kuninkaantie ABC, even though I had cursed the slow charging speed on the outbound journey. A 15-minute break and the battery charged from 34% → 57%, meaning an average charging speed of 87 kW. Better than on the outbound journey.
The third stop took place at the Veturi yard, which had become familiar from the outbound journey. During a 20-minute stop, the battery charged 25% → 70%, average charging speed 122 kW. Peak charging speed 192 kW between 25% - 35%. I really wouldn’t have needed to charge nearly that long.
The fourth stop was not planned. When leaving the previous charge, I decided to get a hot cocoa as a road drink for the rest of the way, so I stopped after driving 16km at the Utti ABC. Same logic as on the outbound journey; since I’m stopping anyway, why not charge the car at the same time. I really should have skipped the Veturi charge and driven straight to the ABC. Oh well, what can you do. A 9-minute stop, charge 65% → 75%, average charging speed 84 kW.
Total distance: 394 km
Consumption: 29.5 kWh / 100 km
Electricity used: ~116 kWh
Price: 40 €
Driving time: 4h 26min
Stops: 1h 12min
I arrived home with a 47% charge. In an ideal situation, the charge would have been much lower because charging at home costs less than half compared to fast chargers.
The experience was positive. The temperature caused no problems, if you don’t count the increased consumption. The car’s battery preconditioning worked well, and the car accepted electricity just like in the summer. Of course, the heating itself increases consumption.
The old car’s consumption on a long trip would have been about 7.5 liters per hundred, meaning about 60 liters of gasoline would have been consumed. At a price of 1.8 € per liter, the trip would have cost 108 euros. The savings were 28 euros. Not much, but in the long run, it becomes significant. With home charging, the savings would have been over 70 €, but you can’t charge at that price on the road.
According to my own calculations, the costs of this car are practically identical to the old car, but if for the same money you get a car over 10 years newer, more powerful, and always warm, then why not? At the same time, maintenance is reduced, predictability in costs improves, and driving is much more comfortable.