[vette4mec6]

Well after a very very long wait, I am picking up my IX next week on the East Coast and driving it across country back home. I have done countless research on this route (i70 corridor) and others over the last few months while waiting for my IX to be delivered. this seems to be the best route when it comes to charging stations.

I don't think I am going to need all the charging stops as predicted by ABRP (route screen shot below), especially since the most recent Edmunds.com testing puts the rang on the IX AT 350miles at a 100% charge). I am going to go conservative and just charge to 80% and figure I will get an average of 300mile on a charge. Current plan is to burn off at least 500 miles per day, which should put me across the country in 5-6 days depending on weather, charging, road conditions, etc etc.

At this point I think I have watch every video by State of Charge and the Out of Spec youtube channels on using the Electrified America Charging stations. Granted those were on different cars (Ionic5, ID4, Taycan, MachE, ETRON, etc etc). Obviously there are only a couple on the IX, mainly around first impressions and charging curves. Those channels have really given me a good idea on what to expect when it comes to charging at EA stations, along with tips and tricks to get the most out of a charging session, or what to do WHEN there WILL be problems. Emphasis on "WHEN and WILL".

My main concerns will obviously be around charging issues at the EA stations and the IX. But I am not in a rush, I plan on packing lots of patience and a good attitude to take along the way.

I will be documenting the entire trip and detailing my experiences at each station along the way and letting folks know how journey goes

Let the adventure begin!

 

[Shinaniganz]

Just curious, why do you need to pick up your vehicle across the country? Or did you order it from a non-local dealer specifically so you could do the road-trip?

 

[davidbailey7]

I bought an IX that someone else canceled their order on. It was already shipping to a dealership on the east coast and I could not get it rerouted to the west coast. I checked into having it shipped cross country but most of the quotes I got were $3700 or more due to current fuel prices and the weight of the IX. Since I have more frequent flyer miles than I know what to do with, plus hotel points for free hotels along the way, I figured, why not fly out and get it and just drive it back. Been stuck in my house for the last couple years like everyone else, so why not have a little adventure.

 

[jeffgtx]

I recommend getting the plug share app so you can check to make sure that other people have successfully charged at the chargers you plan to use. eliminates the element of surprise or fear that they might not be working.

 

[Boergedeist]

vette4mec6, I prepared in a very similar way for my cross country trip and was very concerned if everything was going well. With your attitude you will be just fine. The IX50 is a balm for the soul on a very long trip. The level of equanimity has never been reached in any car I drove for the last 1,5 Min miles. When you arrive you will be sad that it is over and want to travel back. Just enjoy.

 

[hans.olbrecht]

I'm driving my iX40 for about 4 months and drove 13000 km (8000 miles) with it. Best way to estimate is ABRP with setting of 210 kW/km (approx. 340 kWh/mile) as reference consumption @110km/h (68 miles/h).

• Know that charging from 10% to 60% is going the fastest way. So better arriving with a battery at 10% instead of 30% and charge it to 60-65% then continuing to 80%. (See other post on charging experience)
• Use the navigation of the BMW and set the charging station as a (next) stop. Car will know that you are going to charge and this result in higher charging speed (in my experience: arriving preconditioned = charging @ 148 kW; arriving not preconditioned = charging @ 57 kW)

I can assume that a lot of other considerations needs to be taken into account.

• As you don't know the car yet consider a SOC% at charging point of 15%. Knowing that you can always go lower then the 10% sporadically. (Best case is to stay between 10-80% of SOC%)
• Are their multiple high speed DC charging points in the area? If only one consider to identify a back-up some further on the route and foresee enough charging.
• Look if charging stations are regular free. same remark.

Have a good trip! Enjoy the silence of the car.
Hope we can read the result of your experience soon.

 

[Lava]

Use the navigation of the BMW and set the charging station as a (next) stop. Car will know that you are going to charge and this result in higher charging speed (in my experience: arriving preconditioned = charging @ 148 kW; arriving not preconditioned = charging @ 57 kW)

This is an absolutely pro tip. I've found the same. It takes an extra step since you're likely using Google maps etc for true route planning but arriving preconditioned to charge on a road trip saves significant time (and you initially believing the charger is not working at full speed)

 

[ocflyer]

I will be documenting the entire trip and detailing my experiences at each station along the way and letting folks know how journey goes

Let the adventure begin!

You are the "Lewis and Clark" of the iX road trip community! Thank you for blazing a trail, and telling us how it went.

 

[Paladin1]

Write when you get to the Louisiana Territory!

 

[davidbailey7]

Here is my new “Oregon Trail Wagon”. I pick her up next Wednesday. Going to stock up on snacks and point her out on i70

 

[Boergedeist]

You will going to have a super smoothie ride, like I had for 2,400 miles just a few weeks ago in the opposite direction. Congrats!

 

[Stas]

Cool! I made such a trip in May from San Francisco to Miami. It took 3.5 days, of which 20 hours just recharging the car. It was great) I watched movies all the way) But before the trip, I covered the whole car with a protective wrap.

 

[Vsrugby1]

I just completed a 2000-mile round trip from the UK to France and back very enjoyable road trip, I used the assisted driving functions on the first leg without thinking of the energy consumption it took me an extra 7 hours 😅 than on the way back just driving myself. Look forward to your updates 😊 I have documented my driving/charging stats on a Instagram account @bmwix5adventures

 

[pnw]

Cool! I made such a trip in May from San Francisco to Miami. It took 3.5 days, of which 20 hours just recharging the car. It was great) I watched movies all the way)

You watched movies while driving?!?

 

[Paladin1]

I assume while charging...

 

[Stas]

You watched movies while driving?!?

Are you really only interested in this from the whole post?
Then relax, the answer is no.

 

[pnw]

I assume while charging...

The picture shows the car is driving?

Stunts like these give ADAS a bad reputation. Remember all the bad press about Tesla Autopilot stunts? Someone was killed doing exactly this in a Tesla, using a laptop to watch movies, not the road.

 

[Paladin1]

The X5 with iD7 requires coding to watch videos while moving, and I'm not aware right now that iD8 is even codeable for same, so I would guess unlikely....

 

[jeffgtx]

It’s ona laptop mounted to the side. Not on the ix screen.

 

[Paladin1]

It’s ona laptop mounted to the side. Not on the ix screen.

Missed that, but I believe already answered....