[jono987654321]

based on my experience and moderating a 5,000-person EV group

Curious. Which group is that?

 

[electric_journey]

Some more reasons to switch to the NK iX3 rather than LCi Ix45, for me.

Yes, it would be fun to plug in my kettle to my BMW EV and make a cup of tea when I'm on a road trip but the big advantage would be Vehicle to Grid, which in theory, would enable me to charge my car for free at home (assuming UK energy suppliers expand V2G to include these new BMW EVs)

I'm assuming this would all be offered in the iX5, iX6 and iX7 future models as well, but I'm not in a position to wait for those bigger EVs to be released.

"The SoP of the new BMW iX3 will also introduce extensive bidirectional charging functions – to-Load, to-Home and to-Grid:
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) turns the vehicle into a powerful mobile powerbank (up to 3.7kW in Europe) and supplies energy for one or several consumers, wherever customers need it.

Bidirectional charging capability turns the BMW iX3 into an at-home energy storage unit.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) helps customers to reduce costs.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) sets new standards for the integration of the vehicle into the energy market."

Interesting developments on ADAS tech with NK, but not sure how much of these will be available in UK market.

"The motorway assistant with automatic lane change will be available with extended features in the BMW iX3.

Upon request, it can assist drivers from when they join a motorway to when they leave it and allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for long periods.

This assistant remains active even during automated motorway changes along an active navigation route.

The new Motorway & City Assistant helps the driver in complex driving situations in urban areas, e.g. through tight corners or roundabouts. It brakes automatically at red traffic lights and moves off again or sounds an audible signal when lights turn green."

 

[jono987654321]

the big advantage would be Vehicle to Grid, which in theory, would enable me to charge my car for free at home

Hi @electric_journey why/how would it be free charging at home?

 

[electric_journey]

Hi @electric_journey why/how would it be free charging at home?

@jono987654321 There is a tariff from Octopus Energy in the UK

"The tariff, which is still in beta, uses V2G technology and Octopus Energy’s tech platform, Kraken, to balance charging and discharging when it’s best for the grid – charging up the car with cheap, green electricity during off peak times and exporting back to the grid when it needs it most.

All drivers need to do is plug in their car for roughly 6 hours a day**. The rest of the process is automated, leaving drivers with guaranteed free charging.

Octopus Power Pack is available to drivers with V2G compatible electric cars and chargers available in the UK. There is currently only a limited number of models that have this capability, however, car manufacturers such as Volvo have made commitments to releasing V2G-ready models soon.

**Drivers must plug in their electric car for 170+ hours each month to receive their free charging. Drivers must also stay below the usage limit of 333kWh per month (roughly 12,000 miles a year)"

Then you have the V2H functionality that NK cars from BMW would provide..

"The Research and Development project is the largest V2H trial in the world and has seen more than 200 bidirectional chargers installed in UK homes. The multi-year project aims to explore how best V2H technology can be rolled out as a commercial product.

Amongst the results being shared for the first time is that by using Indra’s ground-breaking bidirectional chargers, trialists have so far collectively reduced their household electricity consumption during peak times by more than 100 MWh; this is enough to power an electric vehicle for approximately 430,000 miles.

Trialists achieved this by using energy from their electric vehicle’s battery to power their homes at peak times, and then subsequently recharging their cars’ batteries at off-peak times, when energy is cheaper and greener. Trialists with solar panels were also able to use the green energy generated by their solar panels.

If such reductions in peak energy use were scaled up across a wholly electrified UK bidirectional car fleet, this would significantly reduce the peak load on the grid and reduce CO2 emissions from the energy we use.

Indra also used the conference to share details of savings being made by trialists. Half (50%) anticipated total 12-month savings of between £400 - £799, a further 18% expected £800 to £1,199 in savings and 10% forecasted savings of more than this.

Reductions in cost have been particularly noticeable for those trialling the bidirectional charger in tandem with solar panels who receive Feed-In Tariffs or Smart Export Guarantee payments for electricity sold back to the grids. A number of trialists have experienced negative bills by earning money from their energy provider, particularly in sunnier months of the year."

However, assuming Octopus here in the UK would add the new iX3 to their V2G tariff or that there is some kind of new V2H tariff, I just realised that it would require me swapping to a bidirectional charger at home, and those are NOT particularly cheap or small (given all the extra components)

In the USA, Wallbox have started offering the Wallbox Quasar 2 and power recovery unit for the Kia EV9 (claiming estimated savings of up to $1,500 a year)

Sounds compelling, right? "Quasar 2, including the Power Recovery Unit, will retail from $6,440 (excluding taxes and installation fees)."

That's going to take a few years to get payback on that.

My excitement was premature, as it appears V2H/V2G is still in the early stages of development, let's see what happens in 2026, once more cars hit the market (like the NK ones from BMW) that should lead to cheaper bi-directional chargers and different electricity providers offering V2H/V2G tariffs, as well as figuring out if you can go beyond free charging of the car, in terms of being able to make a profit when selling electricity from the car back to the grid at peak times.

I guess I could do pseudo V2H by simply getting a 15m long cable for V2L and routing that into the kitchen to use with the tumble dryer, washing machine etc but I think that would work best if you have a garage at home and your appliances are in the garage.

 

[DanSilov]

This is the first contender to dethrone iX from my personal top spot. Before, I was thinking that I might upgrade my '22 iX to LCI in 2-3 years time, but honestly, from what I see here, the NK will be the car to buy, especially after it will be 2-3 years on the road with the majority of initial problems fixed. I'm used to a bigger car feel (X5→X6→iX for me), but with the city driving iX3 might be the perfect sized SUV. Really looking forward to in-depth reviews next year.

 

[micleg]

The Neue Klasse iX3 is high on my curiosity list for my next car. The iX is a little bigger than I prefer in a car, so the iX3 might slot in perfectly. I'm just spoiled by acceleration and the B&W audio, so the iX3's acceleration and audio system will be key decision influencers.

Yeah I really hope they won't skip the (at least optional) high end audio system. That would be sad.

 

[electric_journey]

Yeah I really hope they won't skip the (at least optional) high end audio system. That would be sad.

@micleg BMW seem to be very proud of the efforts and resources that have gone into the electric driving sounds in the NK vehicles, so I reckon the NK cars will have moved the game on further when it comes to in car audio systems vs the iX.

"Due for launch in late 2025, BMW’s fully electric Neue Klasse models will take to the roads not just with a fresh design and powerful driving dynamics but with a completely new soundscape as well. HypersonX is just one part of the holistic concept around the smart operating and display system that is the BMW Panoramic iDrive and turns every drive into an entirely new acoustic and tactile experience. It’s all made possible by the new audio architecture, based on the intelligent BMW Operating System X, and a specially developed control unit. Working in concert, these components deliver a striking depth and breadth of sounds.

Developed by the BMW Group Sound Design Studio, the new sound concept encompasses 43 new audio signals plus new driving sounds for Personal and Sport Modes. The spectrum automatically adapts to suit the situation, creating a sound experience that is far more than just an audio accompaniment: it is an emotional interaction between driver and car.

'The unique sound spectrum of HypersonX plays a major role in giving the model its own, highly distinctive acoustic character. By focusing on precision, warmth and lightness, we can create a direct emotional connection between the driver and their vehicle,' explains Renzo Vitale, Creative Director of Sound Design BMW Group. To do this, the team made the conscious decision to reduce the number of basic sounds while introducing a further acoustic level – with more depth, colour and noticeably more precision. The driving sounds in both Personal and Sport Mode have been distilled to the essentials, inspired by natural sounds and structures in art and science. More than ever, the new sound embodies typical BMW driving pleasure – not just as background noise but as a palpable part of the driving experience.

It’s all made possible by the aforementioned audio control unit, which was specially developed for the Neue Klasse. This expands the dynamic range considerably and allows spatial modulation of the drive sound. So, when accelerating, the vehicle seems to move through different three-dimensional layers of sound. The modulated engine sound creates a feel of typical BMW driving dynamics inside the car.

The sound design team have also reinvented sound signals for when the car is not driving – such as the welcome sound as users get in. This was created by a choir of employees recording short messages for personal moments of joy in their native languages at the BMW Group Sound Design Studio. The sound designers then extracted some samples from what they said, combined them with medium- to lower-frequencies and then integrated them into the overall composition. This, coupled with precisely orchestrated lighting, creates an acoustically and visually harmonious setting for getting into the car that’s intuitive, human and full of warmth."

 

[electric_journey]

Another step forward vs the iX, the NK vehicles will no longer have start/stop button. Welcome to the 21st century, BMW. Glad to see you have caught up!

 

[exxxviii]

BMW seem to be very proud of the efforts and resources that have gone into the electric driving sounds in the NK vehicles, so I reckon the NK cars will have moved the game on further when it comes to in car audio systems vs the iX.

I don't think this is about the level or quality of music system (base, Harman Kardon, Bowers & Wilkins). This appears to be related to the sounds the car makes when interacting with it (welcome, acceleration, notifications & alerts, shut-down, etc.)... the stuff that Hans Zimmer composed for the iX.

 

[electric_journey]

I don't think this is about the level or quality of music system (base, Harman Kardon, Bowers & Wilkins). This appears to be related to the sounds the car makes when interacting with it (welcome, acceleration, notifications & alerts, shut-down, etc.)... the stuff that Hans Zimmer composed for the iX.

@exxxviii Yes I know that and the excerpt makes that clear. I was simply highlighting how much effort they are making over and above the iX with vehicle sounds, so it's a good omen from my perspective.

 

[exxxviii]

@exxxviii Yes I know that and the excerpt makes that clear. I was simply highlighting how much effort they are making over and above the iX with vehicle sounds, so it's a good omen from my perspective.

Aaah, that threw me, because the recent context was about the B&W audio system, not the accessory sounds. I don't think their advancement of non-musical sounds gives any insight into the levels of the audio systems they will offer. I really hope they do a B&W-level system in the iX3.

 

[deepbluesky]

I’m definitely looking forward to the next evs from BMW.
Btw I test drove a 2026 X5 50e last week for kicks and let me tell you - that X5 is great but it is a MAJOR step down from the iX wrt acceleration and overall drive experience. Not to mention the rear seating is so much more luxurious and roomy in the iX.
Don’t think I’m moving away from BMW EV anytime soon.

 

[Deacon]

Ask any owner of a first-year production EV from Rivian, Tesla, Polestar, GM, VW, or take your pick. My own experience with a first-gen Tesla was not good. It's common advice in the EV world. Also, search this forum for all the problems iX owners had in 2021-2022. I'm not here to prove anything; I'm here to offer advice based on my experience and moderating a 5,000-person EV group.

Early adopters always get screwed. BMW is not immune to these effects.

I‘ve had my M60 since September, 2022 and while the car has performed with minimal issues you can imagine my concern when I learned that any iX built before March, 2023 (I.e. less than one year in my case) would not be hardware compatible with the new iDrive software released in 2023. Luckily, I don’t think I’ve missed too much but I think I’ll wait until mid to late 2026 before making a decision on the NK architecture.

 

[NomoTesla]

I‘ve had my M60 since September, 2022 and while the car has performed with minimal issues you can imagine my concern when I learned that any iX built before March, 2023 (I.e. less than one year in my case) would not be hardware compatible with the new iDrive software released in 2023. Luckily, I don’t think I’ve missed too much but I think I’ll wait until mid to late 2026 before making a decision on the NK architecture.

I think BMW needs to get its act together and show competitiveness with the rest of the EV world in this regard.

Our iX has been super solid (knock wood) and worry-free. It reminds me of our Prius experience in that regard. Solid as a rock w/ some quirky software.

It's obvious to me that BMW went with the HU-4 due to supply constraints, as the i7 that shipped shortly after was already on HU-5. BMW made an intentional decision to put an end-of-life computer in the pre-2024 builds. I'm sure internal documents will show that to be the case.

BMW should have offered an affordable (or free) upgrade path for pre-2024 model years. That would have been the right thing to do here.

 

[Deacon]

I think BMW needs to get its act together and show competitiveness with the rest of the EV world in this regard.

Our iX has been super solid (knock wood) and worry-free. It reminds me of our Prius experience in that regard. Solid as a rock w/ some quirky software.

It's obvious to me that BMW went with the HU-4 due to supply constraints, as the i7 that shipped shortly after was already on HU-5. BMW made an intentional decision to put an end-of-life computer in the pre-2024 builds. I'm sure internal documents will show that to be the case.

BMW should have offered an affordable (or free) upgrade path for pre-2024 model years. That would have been the right thing to do here.

Yeah, or at least given a heads up of what was coming but that would have frozen their new order pipe line.

 

[NomoTesla]

Yeah, or at least given a heads up of what was coming but that would have frozen their new order pipe line.

Screw customers 'cuz money.

 

[Toitjie Cillié]

Some more reasons to switch to the NK iX3 rather than LCi Ix45, for me.

Yes, it would be fun to plug in my kettle to my BMW EV and make a cup of tea when I'm on a road trip but the big advantage would be Vehicle to Grid, which in theory, would enable me to charge my car for free at home (assuming UK energy suppliers expand V2G to include these new BMW EVs)

I'm assuming this would all be offered in the iX5, iX6 and iX7 future models as well, but I'm not in a position to wait for those bigger EVs to be released.

"The SoP of the new BMW iX3 will also introduce extensive bidirectional charging functions – to-Load, to-Home and to-Grid:
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) turns the vehicle into a powerful mobile powerbank (up to 3.7kW in Europe) and supplies energy for one or several consumers, wherever customers need it.

Bidirectional charging capability turns the BMW iX3 into an at-home energy storage unit.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) helps customers to reduce costs.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) sets new standards for the integration of the vehicle into the energy market."

Interesting developments on ADAS tech with NK, but not sure how much of these will be available in UK market.

"The motorway assistant with automatic lane change will be available with extended features in the BMW iX3.

Upon request, it can assist drivers from when they join a motorway to when they leave it and allow drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel for long periods.

This assistant remains active even during automated motorway changes along an active navigation route.

The new Motorway & City Assistant helps the driver in complex driving situations in urban areas, e.g. through tight corners or roundabouts. It brakes automatically at red traffic lights and moves off again or sounds an audible signal when lights turn green."

I presume BMW will also supply a different charger that is bi-directional. Will one need any wiring changes to the house-wiring, and what are the legal implications of doing this in relation to your regular electricity supplier? And how much will all of this cost?

 

[exxxviii]

I presume BMW will also supply a different charger that is bi-directional. Will one need any wiring changes to the house-wiring, and what are the legal implications of doing this in relation to your regular electricity supplier? And how much will all of this cost?

These systems are involved, and there are forums dedicated to V2H (vehicle to home) systems. You will need to install components on your home that include: isolation switch, inverter, battery, control system, and probably something else I am forgetting. They are on the order of several thousand US dollars.

 

[electric_journey]

I presume BMW will also supply a different charger that is bi-directional. Will one need any wiring changes to the house-wiring, and what are the legal implications of doing this in relation to your regular electricity supplier? And how much will all of this cost?

@Toitjie Cillié Here in the UK, we have some energy suppliers, like Octopus, offering one monthly payment to lease a BYD Dolphin (which has bidirectional charging), smart tariff, along with the installation of a bidirectional wallbox at your home.

It may be that the home needs wiring upgrades, or some minor modifications. It's unclear to me. From a legal perspective, this is something offered by one's electricity supplier (or another one that you switch to) so I don't see any legal problems with this technology, at least here in the UK.

Bidirectional wallboxes are more expensive than regular wallboxes, at the moment, and not many exist.

So we see what happens closer to launch of the iX3.

 

[electric_journey]

These systems are involved, and there are forums dedicated to V2H (vehicle to home) systems. You will need to install components on your home that include: isolation switch, inverter, battery, control system, and probably something else I am forgetting. They are on the order of several thousand US dollars.

@exxxviii I can't see anything in the Octopus offer in the UK that mentions anything about installing all these components you mention in your post to be eligible for the BYD Dolphin deal, as the offer only talks about installing a Zaptech bidirectional wallbox unit on the outside of your home.

The only thing they mention below is,
"Not all customers will be successful, based on local grid stability or capacity, or the safety of your home system. "

It could well be that UK home electrical setup differs from the US home electrical setup?

"To be eligible for the Power Pack Bundle with BYD, Octopus Energy and Octopus EV you will need:

Off street parking and ability to charge your EV at home

To be over the age of 18 and have a full driving licence

No plans to move home in the next 6 months

To be a customer of Octopus Energy, (or be willing to become one!)

A working half-hourly smart meter

To want to lease (rather than own) an electric vehicle

To drive less than 12,000 miles a year

Single phase power at your property (rather than three-phase)

A schedule that fits. You'll need to be able to plug in for 12 hours a day for 20 days per month. We're not fussed if you occasionally miss these targets, but if it's a regular occurrence you may need to hop off the Power Pack tariff. You can see the full T&Cs of the tariff here.

Access to this product is limited to Personal Contract Hire agreements only.

It also requires you to have a G99 license (permission from your Distribution Network Operator to export power to the grid).

The process for obtaining this permission can take up to 12 weeks and results in a license to export an amount of energy to the grid.

Not all customers will be successful, based on local grid stability or capacity, or the safety of your home system.

In these cases you will not be able to take a V2G enabled BYD Dolphin but our EV specialists will be able to guide you through your options and find a suitable car for you, should you still want to lease a non-V2G electric vehicle through Octopus EV."