Car guide

Best portable charger for BMW i4

Most BMW i4 charging happens at home, overnight. Here are the real numbers for a standard power point and a dedicated 15 A outlet, for every battery size.

The short answer

The BMW i4 has a Type 2 inlet, so any Type 2 portable charger fits. On a standard 10 A power point, a 10-hour night adds about 129 km (about 29% of a 70.2 kWh battery); on a dedicated 15 A outlet, about 194 km. A 20→80% top-up of the BMW i4 eDrive35 takes about 20.3 hours on 10 A or 13.6 hours on 15 A.

  • Plug in tonight, no install: the SEVR 10A portable charger, about 13 km of range per hour.
  • Faster at home: the EVSE Australia 15A portable charger (coming soon) on a dedicated 15 A outlet, about 19 km per hour.
  • Running cost: about $13.10 for a 20→80% top-up at 28c/kWh, or $4.68 on a 10c overnight EV plan.
  • Fit: Type 2 inlet. Your owner's manual lists it.
At a glance

Charging the BMW i4 at home

20.3 h20→80% on 10 A, 70.2 kWh battery
13.6 h20→80% on 15 A
29%of the battery per 10-hour night on 10 A
$13.10for 20→80% at 28c/kWh
Charge times

How long the BMW i4 takes to charge

20→80% is the everyday top-up. 10→100% is the worst case: arriving home nearly empty and filling to the top.

VariantBattery (approx.)20→80% on 10A20→80% on 15A20→80% on 7 kW10→100% on 10ANights on 10A, 10→100%
BMW i4 eDrive3570.2 kWh20.3 h13.6 h6.3 h30.5 h4
BMW i4 eDrive40 / M5083.9 kWh24.3 h16.2 h7.6 h36.5 h4
Battery sizes are approximate and vary by model year and variant. A 'night' is 10 hours. Worked numbers use the same assumptions as our range calculator: 230 V, 90% charging efficiency and 16 kWh per 100 km. Cold weather, your car's onboard charger and driving style change real results.
Running cost

What it costs to charge the BMW i4

VariantBattery20→80% at 28c10→100% at 28c10→100% at 18c10→100% at 10c
BMW i4 eDrive3570.2 kWh$13.10$19.66$12.64$7.02
BMW i4 eDrive40 / M5083.9 kWh$15.66$23.49$15.10$8.39
Cost includes about 10% charging losses. Per 100 km, home charging costs about $4.98 at 28c/kWh vs about $13.30 in petrol. Check the c/kWh on your bill.
Good to know

Notes for BMW i4 owners

  • The larger battery takes about a quarter longer to charge than the eDrive35's, but both put back a normal day's driving overnight.
  • The M50 uses more energy when driven hard, so its range per charging hour is lower in practice.
  • Plug straight into the wall. No extension leads, powerboards or adapters, and ideally use an outlet on its own circuit.

See also: charge times for every popular EV and what home charging costs.

Our pick

Best portable chargers for the BMW i4

No install needed

SEVR EV Portable Charger (10A)

Type 210 A max2.3 kW~13 km/h4.5 mIP66

Plugs into any standard power point. About 129 km per 10-hour night, and it travels in the boot.

$183.99Lowest price in Australia · free shipping · 3-year warranty
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Questions

Frequently asked

Does a portable charger work with the BMW i4?

Yes. The BMW i4 uses the Type 2 AC inlet, like every EV sold new in Australia today, so any Type 2 portable charger fits.

How long does the BMW i4 eDrive35 take to charge on a 10A power point?

About 20.3 hours from 20% to 80%, or 30.5 hours from 10% to 100% (about 70.2 kWh battery). Each hour adds about 13 km of range.

How long does the BMW i4 eDrive40 / M50 take to charge on 15A?

About 16.2 hours from 20% to 80% on a dedicated 15 A outlet (about 83.9 kWh battery). A 10-hour night adds roughly 194 km.

How much does it cost to charge the BMW i4 at home?

About $13.10 for a 20→80% top-up of the BMW i4 eDrive35 at 28c/kWh, or $4.68 on a 10c/kWh overnight EV plan, including about 10% charging losses.

Do I need a wall charger for the BMW i4?

Not if you drive under about 150 km a day. A 15 A portable charger adds about 194 km overnight, and a 10 A one about 129 km. A 7 kW wall charger suits long daily drives or two EVs. See portable vs wall charger.

Can I use an extension lead with a portable EV charger?

No. Powerboards and extension leads aren't built for hours of continuous load. Plug the charger straight into the wall, and stop if the plug or outlet feels hot.

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