BMW's first electric X5 charged at up to 460 kW in a public demonstration in Southern California. In a press release dated Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, BMW said it ran the demo with charging network IONNA and charger maker Alpitronic during an international media event in Laguna Hills. Electrek reported the car briefly peaked at 464 kW.
BMW's numbers
- Peak DC charging power: up to 460 kW (iX5 60 xDrive)
- 10 to 80%: 23 minutes, per BMW (Electrek reports 22 minutes)
- Battery: 141 kWh net, per BMW (Electrek cites 144 kWh)
- Range added in 10 minutes: up to 226 miles (363 km) on the European WLTP cycle, per BMW; Electrek, using U.S. figures, says up to 170 miles
The car uses BMW's sixth-generation eDrive system with 800-volt technology and new cylindrical battery cells that BMW says have 20% more volumetric energy density than its previous prismatic cells.
The catch
BMW's own release says: "The 460 kW experience is a technology demonstration and does not represent charging hardware commercially available in the U.S. today." The 460 kW figure is also a peak, not the rate across the whole session, Electrek notes.
Price and timing
Electrek reports the 2027 iX5 60 xDrive goes on sale in the U.S. in the first quarter of 2027 from $79,800, with BMW estimating up to 435 miles of range before official EPA figures. It is BMW's first all-electric vehicle built in the U.S., at Plant Spartanburg, South Carolina.
For today's other charging news, see Electrify America's new 24-charger Orlando station.