The new BMW 530e arrives with more electric range and lower CO2 emissions

The new BMW 5 Series 530e arrives with a range of 57 kilometres in its standard version and 53 in its xDrive version.

The new BMW 5 Series 530e arrives with much greater electric range and lower CO2 emissions, as the Bavarian brand has updated the plug-in hybrid version of its 5 Series with a new, larger battery and has added its xDrive all-wheel-drive system as an option, “making the BMW 530e even better than before”.

Thanks to advances in battery cell technology, the German brand has been able to do away with the previous 9.2 kWh pack in favour of a new 12 kWh unit, which keeps the same physical size and therefore does not take up any additional space in the luggage compartment of the BMW 5 Series hybrid.

The larger battery results in an electric range of up to 57 kilometres for the new BMW 530e and 53 kilometres for the xDrive version, according to the WLTP homologation cycle.

BMW 5 Series 530e, now with more range

The updated BMW 530e can be fully charged using a conventional domestic plug socket in less than six hours, or in three hours and 35 minutes using the BMW I-Wallbox.

In addition to the new battery, the powertrain has also been updated with the latest eDrive technology from BMW, which reduced the combined fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by more than 20%. Official figures indicate that the BMW 530e now emits only 36 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

As before, the BMW 530e works with a combination of a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 183 CV, with a 112 CV electric motor, resulting in a combined output of 252 CV and 420 Nm of maximum torque. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is the only transmission option.

The brand with the propeller emblem has confirmed that the new 530e can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds, with a top speed of 235 km/h. In pure electric mode, the top speed is limited to 140 km/h. The plug-in hybrid member of the BMW 5 Series also comes equipped with an auxiliary air conditioning system, which allows owners to remotely precondition the interior of their vehicle via the BMW Connected smartphone app.

In addition, almost the entire range of optional equipment for the 5 Series saloon is available for both plug-in hybrid models. The offering ranges from adaptive suspension and 17- to 20-inch light-alloy wheels to especially elegant and high-quality optional equipment from BMW Individual, as well as the Driving Assistant Plus and Parking Assistant Plus driver assistance systems.BMW Live Cockpit ConnectedDrive with its fully digital display design is also available as a special feature. It includes a high-resolution instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch diagonal display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch control display.

According to the brand itself, “BMW’s plug-in hybrid drive systems already offer users a number of additional benefits over traditional solutions, such as saving money: electric driving in urban areas is cheaper than using petrol or diesel if the plug-in hybrid is charged at home or at the workplace at low cost. The interior is always at the right temperature, even before you get in: auxiliary heating and auxiliary air conditioning are fitted as standard”.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PBG3IelKpg

“The battery is charged when braking. In conventional vehicles, braking generates only heat and brake dust, and the best of both worlds: plug-in hybrids deliver the pleasure of electric driving in urban areas and the classic driving pleasure of BMW over longer distances”. BMW says it is “paving the way to the future: because a plug-in hybrid can run with zero emissions, it is eligible to enter many low-emission zones, enjoys additional parking privileges and saves on toll charges”.

Likewise, it offers “a better quality of life in cities: by driving on electric power, users can actively help reduce emissions and traffic noise in cities”.