The new BMW iX5’s power demonstration: up to 460 kW of charging power and 350 kilometers of range in just 10 minutes
Ten minutes of charging is enough to add 349 kilometers of WLTP range to the new BMW iX5 60 xDrive, the first all-electric X5 in history. This is the figure the brand wanted to showcase to everyone during a demonstration event held in Laguna Hills, southern California: up to 460 kW of charging power at direct current.
BMW didn’t conduct this test alone. It relied on IONNA, the fast-charging network being built by eight manufacturers in the United States, as well as Alpitronic, a specialist in high-power chargers. The demonstration is notable because the iX5 features an enormous battery with 141 kWh of net capacity, and with such a large battery, customers will only be convinced if it can be charged quickly.
Gen6: 800 volts and cylindrical cells
The iX5 features BMW’s sixth generation of eDrive technology, known as Gen6, which was first introduced in the BMW iX3 earlier this year. It includes a new powertrain with upgraded electric motors and a completely different high-voltage battery concept. All of these elements are integrated into the German automaker’s Neue Klasse platform.
The architecture operates at 800 volts, enabling greater range, faster charging, and two-way charging. The batteries move away from the prismatic cells of Gen5 to cylindrical cells, which BMW claims offer 20% higher energy density per volume. In the iX5, these cells are 120 millimeters tall and are used for the first time in this model. BMW’s batteries have won prestigious international awards for their outstanding performance.
460 kW peak power and 22 minutes to go from 10% to 80%
The charging figures for the iX5 60 xDrive are truly impressive: up to 460 kW of maximum DC power and 349 kilometers of range restored in 10 minutes. It takes 22 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80%
.If we do the math, that’s about 99 kWh delivered in 22 minutes, which translates to an average of nearly 270 kW throughout the entire charging session. This figure is more telling than just the peak value, as it shows how well the battery performs under high-power charging conditions. For comparison, the iX3 50 xDrive claims a maximum of 400 kW with a 108.7 kWh battery.
Regarding range, BMW reports between 20.1 and 23.9 kWh per 100 kilometers under the WLTP cycle. With these figures, the brand claims up to 845 kilometers of range for this version.
IONNA and Alpitronic, the other two highlights
IONNA is the joint venture established by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota to deploy fast charging stations in North America. It promises reliability through very rigorous compatibility testing, as well as discounted recharging for BMW drivers who meet the requirements.
Alpitronic, an Italian manufacturer based in Bolzano, has provided the hardware capable of delivering 460 kW through its HYC1000 stations. It has been collaborating with BMW for years, aiming to ensure seamless interaction between the car and the charger, because, as its CEO Philipp Senoner puts it, both must advance simultaneously.
A demonstration, not a street charger
Despite the impressive outdoor demonstration, BMW clarifies that the 460 kW experience is a technological showcase rather than a real-world test, as the United States still lacks the infrastructure capable of charging at such speeds. In other words, the car is ready, but the charging network isn’t yet. However, what’s truly valuable is seeing what the Gen6 battery can achieve when unencumbered by chargers. In Europe, the electric iX5 will arrive in early 2027 with exceptional performance specs, though its price will be anything but affordable—well over 100,000 euros.