BMW X1 xDrive30e EV Charging Cable

This is the one BMW plug-in where the year changes the cable

The 2020 to 2022 xDrive25e carries a 10 kWh pack and a 3.7 kW charger, good for 33 to 35 miles of WLTP electric range. The 2023 on xDrive30e is a different car on a different platform: 14.2 kWh usable, 47 to 53 miles, and BMW doubled the AC rate to 7.4 kW when they launched it.

So the 16A cable that is perfectly correct for an xDrive25e leaves an xDrive30e charging at half speed. Check the year before you order, because this is one of very few BMW plug-in hybrids where a 32A lead earns its money.

How long a full charge takes

The arithmetic is simple: kWh over kW, 13 per cent on top for losses, rounded to the nearest quarter hour. The 10 kWh column is the xDrive25e, which cannot use the 7.4 kW row, and the 14.2 kWh column is the xDrive30e, which can. BMW quotes just under three and a quarter hours from a wall box on the older car and about two and a half hours on the newer one at 7.4 kW.

No part of this car accepts DC, so rapid charging is off the table entirely. Charging happens through the Type 2 socket or it does not happen, and that makes the cable the one accessory the car genuinely cannot manage without.

Which length to buy

BMW puts the charging flap on the front nearside wing and says so in its own UK press material, describing a right hand drive car, so it is the kerb side and it does not swap sides. It is separate from the fuel filler at the rear.

Nose in towards the charge point with it on the left and 5 metres is plenty on a 4.5 metre car. Reverse in, or park with the wall box on the right, and 10 metres is the buy. Measure from the charge point to the inlet as the car actually parks, then add two metres of slack.

How these cables are built

Built to IEC 62196-2 and CE marked, with an IP55 rating that covers rain and dust on an exposed driveway, and a working range of -30C to +50C.

The three pin cable is built to IEC 62752, CE marked, sealed to IP67 and rated from -30C to +60C. The manufacturer warrants it for two years, delivery in the UK is free and next working day, and returns run to 30 days.

Looking at another BMW? Start with the BMW 330e EV Charging Cable, or browse every model in BMW charging cables. For a wall box or public post the lead is the Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable.

BMW X1 plug-in hybrid charging cable questions

Which cable does my X1 plug-in need?

It depends on the year. A 2020 to 2022 xDrive25e tops out at 3.7 kW, so 16A is enough. A 2023 on xDrive30e takes 7.4 kW, so the 32A cable halves the charge time and is worth the difference.

How long does an X1 xDrive30e take to charge?

About two and a half hours from flat at 7.4 kW on the 14.2 kWh pack, per BMW. At 3.7 kW on a 16A lead it is closer to five.

Which side is the charging flap on?

The front nearside wing, under its own flap ahead of the front passenger door. BMW states front left for the UK car, so it is the kerb side, not the driver's side.

Can an X1 plug-in hybrid use a rapid charger?

No. Neither generation has DC capability, so the Type 2 cable is the only way to put charge in. A motorway rapid is no use to it at all.