BMW iX1 eDrive20 EV charger: which one suits you best?
The BMW iX1 eDrive20 charges at home with a standard AC output of 11 kW, through a type 2 port. That is the European standard for AC charging. An 11 kW charger matches the car exactly. It fills the battery overnight without needing a heavier connection than the car can use. BMW does offer a 22 kW onboard charger as a paid option. Check your order sheet if you are not sure which one you have. The iX1 comes in two versions, and our BMW EV charger overview puts them side by side.
For the BMW iX1 eDrive20 we recommend a charger from our 11 kW EV chargers.
Charging specifications of the BMW iX1 eDrive20
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery capacity (usable) | 64.7 kWh |
| Max. AC charging power (home) | 11 kW as standard, 22 kW optional |
| Range (WLTP) | 430 to 475 km |
| Charging time with an 11 kW charger | about 6.5 hours, including charging losses |
| Charging connector | type 2 |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
The right EV charger for the BMW iX1 eDrive20
The iX1 eDrive20 spreads its 11 kW across three phases, so it draws 16 A per phase. An 11 kW charger delivers precisely that. Going higher does not make the standard car charge faster, because the limit sits in the car and not in the charger.
What the charger can do matters more. Three features are worth checking for this car. Load balancing lets the charger lower its own power when the rest of your home draws a lot. That keeps your main fuse out of trouble. App control lets you start a session on a cheap night tariff. Have panels on the roof? A charger for solar surplus charging feeds the iX1 with power you generate yourself.
A MID meter is worth a separate word. It is a MID-certified kWh meter built into the charger, so its reading is accurate enough to bill on. At 11 kW our choice of chargers with a MID meter is thin. Almost every model with one sits in our 22 kW range.
A 22 kW charger will still charge a standard iX1 eDrive20 at its own 11 kW maximum. You gain the meter rather than speed, and it does ask for a heavier three-phase supply. Did you order the optional 22 kW onboard charger? Then that same charger cuts a full charge to roughly 3 hours 45 minutes.
Most iX1 drivers charge at home every night, and our home EV chargers bring together the models built for exactly that. We are an independent specialist, so we always point you to the model that fits your situation best.
Charging times for the BMW iX1 eDrive20
On an 11 kW charger with a three-phase supply, the 64.7 kWh battery goes from empty to full in about 6.5 hours. Plug in during the evening and you leave in the morning on a full battery.
Plenty of homes have only a single-phase supply. That is less of a problem than it sounds. On a 7.4 kW charger, which is 32 A on one phase, the iX1 eDrive20 still takes its full 7.4 kW. A complete charge then lands at roughly 10 hours. Three phases save you a few hours, but a single-phase charger still covers a normal night. The car uses a type 2 connector, like most modern chargers. You only need a separate type 2 charging cable for public charge points along the way.
Other versions of the BMW iX1
Wallbox Discounter also has charging information for the other version of the BMW iX1:
- BMW iX1 xDrive30, the all-wheel-drive version with more power.
Frequently asked questions about the BMW iX1 eDrive20 EV charger
Does the BMW iX1 eDrive20 need a three-phase connection?
Only if you want its full 11 kW. On three phases the car draws 16 A per phase and charges in about 6.5 hours. On a single-phase 32 A charger it still accepts the full 7.4 kW, which puts a complete charge at roughly 10 hours. A three-phase supply saves time, but it is not a requirement.
Why does a MID meter matter for the BMW iX1 eDrive20?
A MID-certified kWh meter records your charging accurately, so the figure holds up. You then know exactly how much electricity went into the car at home. That is useful if you want to keep an eye on your own charging costs, and equally useful if you pass the amount on to an employer or a lease company. We always recommend having the connection made by a qualified electrician, so you know the work is done safely.