What initially seemed like surprising range anxiety actually strengthened our trust in the BMW iX.
The snow is gradually thawing, even if this transition has been somewhat patchy, signaling that spring is beginning to take hold in upstate New York. With this change underway, we're anticipating many more summertime adventures through road trips and discoveries ahead.
2024 BMW iX
That has been with our family for almost 18 months now.
Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs
During that one-and-a-half-year period, we traveled 16,523 miles over two winters, achieving an overall average efficiency of 3.0 miles per kilowatt-hour. This figure compares well against the vehicle’s official EPA rating of 2.9 miles per kilowatt-hour. However, as expected, performance dropped significantly during the most frigid periods. The lowest recorded efficiency was 2.3 miles per kilowatt-hour when the outside temperature dipped to minus eight degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to -17 Celsius.
But that didn't stop us from getting out there over the winter, a process made a little more adventurous lately thanks to an unfortunate habit our iX picked up a few software updates ago.
'Time Slot Mode'
Like most EVs, the iX can be set to start charging immediately when you plug it in, and you can, of course, set a maximum charge percentage to keep from topping out all 105.2 kWh every time. (We usually have ours set at 90% to preserve the battery long-term.)
The iX can be configured for planned charging as well; this feature from BMW is known as "time slot mode." It ensures the vehicle doesn’t begin drawing power until a specified time. This is particularly useful if your energy supplier offers lower rates during off-peak hours under a tiered pricing system.
The problem is, we've not enabled this mode in the iX or
within the My BMW application
, yet our SUV keeps falling back to a delayed start to charging of 10 pm. We keep disabling this feature and yet it keeps coming back, zombie-like, catching us by surprise. We plug the car in, and it says it's charging.
Later, we find out that it wasn't.
actually
start charging until the evening, or sometimes not at all, leaving us with insufficient range the following morning. This is, as you might guess, not ideal.
Short Circuit
2024 BMW iX Cupholders 004
I was caught off guard by this issue once back in January. Even though the car was connected overnight, it only retained about half of its battery charge by the next day, forcing me to start up my Subaru for a trip to Vermont instead. I would have preferred using the iX. Several weeks after that incident, something similar happened to my spouse, who needed to attend an early appointment far north in the Adirondack Park region.
The journey spanned 320 miles during mid-winter, typically requiring just one brief recharge en route. However, this time she needed an urgent halt at a charging station on the outbound leg to gather as much power as possible without missing her appointments. She also had to ensure sufficient battery life remained to complete the return trip successfully.
Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs
That certainly isn’t the best scenario, yet oddly enough, it ended up bolstering our faith in the vehicle. To such an extent that even with the charging issue, my spouse only had positive things to say about the iX once the day was over.
Silver Linings
The initial positive aspect was the iX’s estimated remaining range. Having driven many electric vehicles over the years, I’ve encountered numerous instances where drivers had to perform complex calculations on the go, constantly recalculating their battery life just to ensure they could reach their destination without running out of power.
As I mentioned earlier in these updates,
The iX's range prediction displayed on the dashboard is accurate.
, seldom deviating by more than a few percent even when the journey spans several hundred miles. This was the initial blessing that turned what could have been a dreadful voyage into something manageable.
Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs
This is the sole vehicle I have operated.
Where the range prediction actually alleviates my range anxiety.
My spouse mentioned, 'If another vehicle had informed me we’d reach our destination with only six percent battery remaining, I would have been extremely anxious for the entire journey.'
Obtaining precise range estimations necessitates utilizing the vehicle’s built-in navigation system, and fortunately, BMW's performs very well. Nevertheless, I predominantly rely on Google Maps through Android Auto since it often anticipates my destination shortly after I enter the car, allowing me to simply tap and start driving.
For extended journeys, though, I rely more on the navigation experience provided by iDrive, which seldom lets me down. Typically, I get an expansive overhead view of my path displayed on the main infotainment screen, a detailed map shown in the instrument cluster near the steering wheel, and the head-up display set up to offer me enhanced-reality directional indicators.
Sure, having such detailed navigation might seem excessive, but when I’m faced with complex routes where making a wrong turn could have serious repercussions—like navigating through Newark International Airport during peak traffic—it’s incredibly reassuring.
Plug and Pray
Another element that alleviated the possible daily stress was convenient charging. At this point, we ought to be thoroughly immersed in an era where
Plug and Charge
It simply functions. Unfortunately, it still seems surprising when it does so.
Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs
I’m delighted to share that I felt reassured when my spouse reported back after using the charging station. The iX includes two years of complimentary 30-minute charges via Electrify America, though we’ve had difficulties in the past getting these sessions to begin seamlessly. Thus, my wife approached the EVOLVE NY charger located in North Hudson, managed by Electrify America and equipped with nine 350 kW stations, somewhat nervously.
I was prepared to assist with troubleshooting or, alternatively, locate an alternate spot. Thankfully, I wasn’t needed. “I simply connected it, and the system acknowledged my vehicle and indicated that I could charge for free,” my spouse messaged me. “This is how every station should function.”
Absolutely, and let's hope that continues to be the case moving ahead.
The charging session reached 169 kW, which is quite close to the iX’s officially stated maximum charge rate of 195 kW. The steady curve provided more than 70 kWh within 28 minutes, delivering impressive performance even considering the cold weather conditions.
Fool Me Twice
I dislike that we must perform this task, yet we’ve come to understand the importance of opening the My BMW app to confirm that charging has begun when we have plans the next day. As I’m writing this, overnight, the vehicle reverted to time-slot mode without any intervention on our part.
Many other iX owners are noticing this as well.
are indicating that the time slot mode is not functioning
It might be perfect for them. However, I observed that the car has a pending new software update. Hopefully, this will resolve the most significant issue we've had with the SUV.
Photo by: Tim Stevens/InsideEVs
Still, sometimes frustrating situations like that help make you appreciate just how good you have it in other areas.
Tim Stevens is a veteran editor, analyst, and expert in the tech and automotive industries. He helmed CNET's automotive coverage for nine years and acted as Vice President of Content. Prior to that, Tim served as Editor-in-Chief at Engadget and even led a previous life as an Enterprise Software Architect. Follow Tim on X at
@tim_stevens
and catch his
Substack
.
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