For those who still think of electric mobility as something entirely rational, devoid of emotion, a concept of mobility aimed solely at efficiency — the increasingly frequent debut of models such as the electric BMW i4 gives cause to think not so much of a reversal of the trend, but of an electric mobility offer capable of appealing to ever more diverse target groups, in terms of purchase propensity (in this case the price starts from €60,900), but also in terms of buyer profiles, much as happened throughout the history of the internal combustion engine car.

The BMW i4 is, first of all, a coupé, a car concept that has always been closer to hedonism, to the pleasure of driving. To be clear, space and comfort are there, but performance, dynamism and aesthetics certainly take the upper hand. Especially in the M50 version: 400 kW (or 544 horsepower, which in the collective imagination still sounds even more "understandable"), all-wheel drive. Range of up to 521 kilometres. Then, a series of features that already define the character of this electric car: adaptive suspension (capable of adjusting to road conditions and speed), sports steering (responsive, very responsive…), wheels up to 20 inches — perhaps not the pinnacle of rationality (or efficiency), but just imagine the "wow!" effect.

On the M50 there is even a "Sport boost" option, the polar opposite of "Eco" programmes, delivering maximum performance — picture two electric motors putting out full power. Now, anyone familiar with the challenges of the electric car knows perfectly well that it is not wise to overdo it and that efficiency must remain the primary objective. Yet, faced with that 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, you find yourself almost spellbound, as though all restraint were lost. The risk of letting yourself go is real, in the full knowledge that in return, the range will decrease noticeably.

BMW i4, reason or emotion?

Clearly, reason cannot reside (at least not entirely) in that M50, where exceptional performance comes at the cost of reduced range. That is emotion — the desire to draw out the "dark", intriguing side of electric mobility. Reason lies elsewhere, in the other face of the BMW i4. In the eDrive40 which, while still delivering notably impressive performance, with rear-wheel drive only (which also means lower energy consumption…), offers greater range (590 kilometres against the M50's 521), lower costs and lower energy consumption. In a word, more efficiency.

It is undoubtedly the most fitting version for exploring other characteristics of this electric BMW. The efficiency of energy recuperation during braking, for instance — adaptive (with the navigation system "seeing" junctions, bends and roundabouts ahead and automatically slowing the car) or individually adjustable, to decide how much energy to recover under braking, to make use of that "one-pedal feeling" that we first told you about several years ago on BMW's first electric car, the i3.

More circular economy in production cycles

Before returning to our test drive, to the dynamic, "emotional" characteristics of this BMW i4, we wanted to flag some further "rational" aspects: the attention to sustainability, the responsible use of resources across the entire value chain, the efforts to reduce the CO2 footprint throughout the product's entire life cycle, implemented at the BMW plant in Munich where the i4 is produced. And further: battery cells produced using only energy from renewable sources; the transparent, "ethical" extraction of the cobalt and lithium required for the battery; the extensive use of the circular economy in production processes, with the use of secondary raw materials (obtained from production waste and from end-of-life products sent to recovery facilities), natural and recycled materials; and the elimination of rare earths from the electric motors.

An electric car that reconciles fun and efficiency

Back on board the BMW i4. Whatever the version, the sense of sportiness inside is dominant. More so than the space, which is excellent at the front, decent at the rear and for luggage (even if the electric tailgate is wide and convenient). Rear visibility (owing to the small rear window and headrests) is not ideal for manoeuvring in tight spaces, although cameras and sensors resolve the issue when needed; there is also an optional parking assistant that offers, among other things, a top-down and 3D view of the car.

What prevails, as we have said, is the focus on driving pleasure, which goes beyond mere performance. Beyond the silence. Or the absence of vibration. Here it is almost the very essence of this electric car — thanks in part to the long wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels), the battery that lowers the centre of gravity, and the wide track. The aluminium used to reduce weight, working towards the ultimate goal: that "sustainable lightness of the car" — the only keystone (together with aerodynamics) for reducing consumption and increasing efficiency and range.

Cars increasingly similar to a smartphone

It is hard not to get lost in the complexity of the central console, where everything is controlled by large (and curved) touchscreen displays that, to be fully explained (and understood), require far more than the brief time of a test drive like ours. One thing, however, becomes clear on the BMW i4, from the "controller" that governs everything and the few remaining buttons: the interaction — verbal if you like — with the car is increasingly designed to resemble the relationship we have with our smartphone, that is, direct and simple (provided, as mentioned, there is a period of adjustment, much like the latest iPhone, or the latest operating system on our PC…).

Cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar in the service of safety

High performance, yes, but also a strong focus on safety, perceptible even while driving. BMW states the presence of "around 40 driver assistance functions available" — a figure that gives a good sense of how steadily we are moving towards autonomous driving. From collision warnings to systems that limit speed (automatically too, if desired), lane-keeping controls and adaptive cruise control, thanks to arrays of cameras, ultrasonic sensors and radar, the BMW i4 has everything needed to raise levels of active safety — aimed, that is, at avoiding or reducing the effects of possible collisions. This, too, is sustainability (social sustainability, in this case).

How, when (and for how long) to charge an i4

Now let us turn to another crucial aspect for all electric vehicles: range and charging. On the first point we have already given you the declared figures, which are more favourable for the less powerful i4 eDrive40. Helping with management is the navigation system which, being cloud-based, allows you to plan your route including any intermediate stops for charging. How long do the stops take? As always, it depends on the charging process — whether the current is alternating (AC) or direct (DC) as at charging stations, with the latter being much faster. Better still if you find a high-power charging station, or "fast charge", such as those in the Ionity network, which allows charging from 10 to 80% in 40 minutes. Things go very differently — and by quite a margin — if you use other charging methods: to give you an idea, charging 100 kilometres of range takes 1 hour and 36 minutes with an 11 kW wallbox, and more than 8 hours from a standard domestic socket.

From electrification to hydrogen, BMW's future plans

We wanted to close with a summary of what emerged from the recent BMW annual conference, useful for taking stock of the German brand's future commitments on electrification and other fronts. From the confirmation of the current 15 electric models, to the development of a new generation of battery cells that should significantly lower costs, through to the goal, by 2030, of reaching 50% of sales with fully electric models. Also by 2030, the BMW Group announced its intention to reduce its CO2 emissions per vehicle from production by 80% (compared to 2019 levels) and, by the same date, to transform the luxury brand Rolls-Royce into a fully electric brand, as with Mini.

A further chapter is hydrogen, which in the brand's forecasts "should represent a growing percentage of the powertrain mix from the second half of the decade". Shortly, alongside the hydrogen car models already on sale, such as the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo, the BMW iX5 Hydrogen could be added (for now only for a series of tests), with its series production reportedly confirmed from 2022.