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Ai4BEVvsBM3Petrol
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  • Specsi4 · M3

BMW i4 M50 xDrive G26 vs BMW M3 Competition F80

Trip mapped at a glance. Charging stops visible, total duration predictable. Caralogy simulation at 130 km/h.

saloon · 2024 vs 2020 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
BMWBEV

i4 M50 xDrive G26

544 ch · 80.7 kWh · 2024

VS
BMWPetrolPlus rapide

M3 Competition F80

510 ch · 2020

Simulation trip
Assumptions: 130 km/h · start 100 % · mild weather

Result · total trip time

ABMW i4 M50 xDrive G26

7h37charging included

4 stops · 80.88 €

Gap31 minin favour of M3 Competition
BBMW M3 Competition F80

7h06charging included

1 stop · 127.81 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
Measurei4 M50 xDrive G26M3 Competition F80Gap
Total time7h377h0631 min · M3 Competition F80
Charging stops4 stops1 stop3 stops · M3 Competition F80
Cost of energy used80.88 €127.81 €46.93 € · i4 M50 xDrive G26

Visualise the trip

Both vehicles drive at 130 km/h. The difference comes from charging stops.

BMWBEV
i4 M50 xDrive G26
100%
341 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
10 min · +32 kWh · 19.37 €
Charge 2
10 min · +32 kWh · 19.37 €
Charge 3
10 min · +32 kWh · 19.37 €
Charge 4
6 min · +21 kWh · 12.50 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h37
4
Stops
7h37
Duration
80.88 €
Cost of energy used
BMWPetrolFastest
M3 Competition F80
100%
699 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Refuel 1
5 min · +53 L · 115.23 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h06
1
Stops
7h06
Duration
127.81 €
Cost of energy used

The 31-minute lead of the M3 Competition F80 (combustion) comes from not needing a charging stop: 1 stop of 5 min versus 4 stops totalling 36 min for the i4 M50 xDrive G26 (electric).

Both vehicles drove at 130 km/h for the entire trip. The M3 Competition F80 (combustion) makes 1 stop of 5 min, the i4 M50 xDrive G26 (electric) 4 stops totalling 36 min. Road safety reminder: on a trip of this duration, it is recommended to stop for at least 51 min total (17 min every 2h). The energy cost is 80,88 € for i4 M50 xDrive G26 versus 127,81 € for M3 Competition F80.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (19,7 kWh/100km for i4 M50 xDrive G26 and 10,2 L/100km for M3 Competition F80) are measured on a mixed cycle averaging ~46 km/h. At a steady 130 km/h, aerodynamic drag weighs much more heavily - it grows with the square of speed. Caralogy calculates a motorway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve - not a uniform correction factor. For this trip, the simulation yields 23,6 kWh/100km (i4 M50 xDrive G26) and 7,6 L/100km (M3 Competition F80). Full methodology: see the assumptions below the controls.

What about a 200 km round trip?

On a 200 km round trip (e.g. a weekend getaway), the electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle completes the entire journey on home energy at 0.20 €/kWh - with no charging stop. The time advantage of the combustion car on long-distance motorways disappears entirely, and the economic advantage of electric strengthens considerably.

Energy cost breakdown for your trip Paris → Marseille

The cost per kilometre depends on the electricity rate applied to each segment - based on the energy source used at that point of the trip.

BMW i4 M50 xDrive G26

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Tournus, A6initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh307 km73 kWh consumed0.047 €/km14.53 €
Tournus, A6 → Limonest, A6energy charged at Ionity 194 kW · 0.60 €/kWh137 km32 kWh consumed0.141 €/km19.37 €
Limonest, A6 → Montélimar, A7energy charged at Ionity 194 kW · 0.60 €/kWh137 km32 kWh consumed0.141 €/km19.37 €
Montélimar, A7 → Manosque, A51energy charged at Ionity 194 kW · 0.60 €/kWh137 km32 kWh consumed0.141 €/km19.37 €
Manosque, A51 → Marseilleenergy charged at Ionity 208 kW · 0.60 €/kWh58 km14 kWh consumed0.142 €/km8.24 €
Trip total80.88 €

BMW M3 Competition F80

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Manosque, A51fuel · 2.17 €/L699 km53 L consumed0.165 €/km115.23 €
Manosque, A51 → Marseillefuel · 2.17 €/L76 km6 L consumed0.166 €/km12.59 €
Trip total127.81 €

Range recovered by stop duration

How many kilometres do you recover depending on the time spent at the charger? Comparison at nominal peak power.
Charging stop durationBMW i4 M50 xDrive G26BMW M3 Competition F80
5 minutes~51 km-
10 minutes~101 km-
20 minutes~202 km-
Full session 10 → 80 %~239 km · 25 min-

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
19.7 kWh/100 km · 10.2 L/100 km

Compare with another vehicle

Replace one of the two with an alternative from the same segment

BMWBEV

i4 M50 xDrive G26

544 ch · 80.7 kWh · 2024

BMWPetrol

M3 Competition F80

510 ch · 2020

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Frequently asked questions

The advantage comes from the combo real range + charging speed. On Paris → Marseille (775 km at 130 km/h), the M3 Competition F80 arrives in 7h06 with 1 fuel stop.

WLTP consumption does not reflect motorway reality. Aerodynamic drag grows with the square of speed, so real consumption is 15 to 25 % higher than WLTP combined. Caralogy calculates a highway consumption specific to each vehicle based on its aerodynamic profile (SCx), weight and power curve.

Total time = driving time + charging time. Driving time is calculated at an average speed of 130 km/h on the motorway (adjustable). Charging time is calculated based on the real power curve of each vehicle, respecting the optimal 10 → 80 % range and the maximum power accepted by the chargers on the route.

No. The displayed cost covers only the energy consumed during the trip: kWh × energy rate, with a mix of home charging and DC fast chargers. Battery wear is a long-term ownership cost, not a trip cost.

On this trip, the energy used costs 80.88 € (i4 M50 xDrive G26) and 127.81 € (M3 Competition F80). For reference, an equivalent Peugeot 508 1.6 PureTech 180 (~7.2 L/100 km) would cost about 103 € in fuel.