Skip to main content
CaralogyCaralogy
HomeBrandsRoad TripBudgetDuelGuides
Caralogy

The car comparison platform. Physics simulation, road trips, real costs.

Navigation
All brandsCar duelRunning costsMotorwayMethodology
Simulators
Motorway simulatorRunning costsPerformance duel
Brands
VolkswagenBMWMercedesToyotaTeslaAudi
FRENDEESIT
© 2026 Caralogy · All rights reserved
  1. Home
  2. /Motorway
  3. /grand tourer
AModelvsBi4BEV
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsModel · i4

Tesla Model S 85 vs BMW i4 eDrive35 G26

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

grand tourer · 2012 vs 2024 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
TeslaBEV

Model S 85

362 ch · 77.5 kWh · 2012

VS
BMWBEVPlus rapide

i4 eDrive35 G26

286 ch · 67.1 kWh · 2024

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

Result · total trip time

ATesla Model S 85

8h09charging included

4 stops · 86.68 €

Gap25 minin favour of i4 eDrive35
BBMW i4 eDrive35 G26

7h44charging included

4 stops · 79.64 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
MeasureModel S 85i4 eDrive35 G26Gap
Total time8h097h4425 min · i4 eDrive35 G26
Charging stops4 stops4 stopsSame
Cost of energy used86.68 €79.64 €7.04 € · i4 eDrive35 G26

Visualise the trip

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

TeslaBEV
Model S 85
100%
315 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 2
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 3
16 min · +31 kWh · 18.60 €
Charge 4
20 min · +36 kWh · 21.36 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 8h09
4
Stops
8h09
Duration
86.68 €
Cost of energy used
BMWBEVFastest
i4 eDrive35 G26
100%
301 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Charge 1
9 min · +27 kWh · 16.10 €
Charge 2
9 min · +27 kWh · 16.10 €
Charge 3
9 min · +27 kWh · 16.10 €
Charge 4
15 min · +39 kWh · 23.26 €
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h44
4
Stops
7h44
Duration
79.64 €
Cost of energy used

The 25-minute lead of the i4 eDrive35 G26 does not come from driving speed, but from shorter stops on this route (43 min vs 69 min).

Both vehicles drove at 130 km/h for the entire trip. The gap is built at the stops: 4 stops totalling 43 min for the i4 eDrive35 G26 versus 4 stops totalling 69 min for the Model S 85.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (23,5 kWh/100km for Model S 85 and 18,6 kWh/100km for i4 eDrive35 G26) 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 24,6 kWh/100km (Model S 85) and 22,3 kWh/100km (i4 eDrive35 G26). Full methodology: see the assumptions below the controls.

Recovery speed: 12,4 km/min versus 7,6 km/min

During the 43 minutes of charging for the i4 eDrive35 G26, range recovers by 535 km. During the 69 cumulative minutes for the Model S 85, range recovers by 523 km. Per minute: the i4 eDrive35 G26 recovers 1,6× faster. At this rate, the charging stop blends into the trip rhythm - just enough time for a coffee. At a lower rate, it dictates the pace.

For reference: how much would an equivalent petrol car cost?

A BMW 530i (equivalent segment) consumes about 8,0 L/100km on the motorway at 130 km/h. At 1,9 €/L, this Paris → Marseille trip would cost ~115 €. That is 1,3× the electric cost of the Model S 85 and 1,4× that of the i4 eDrive35 G26. The gap narrows in winter but never reverses.

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.

Tesla Model S 85

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Beaune, A6initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh283 km70 kWh consumed0.049 €/km13.96 €
Beaune, A6 → Limonest, A6energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Limonest, A6 → Valence, A7energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Valence, A7 → Manosque, A51energy charged at Supercharger 116 kW · 0.60 €/kWh126 km31 kWh consumed0.148 €/km18.60 €
Manosque, A51 → Marseilleenergy charged at Supercharger 107 kW · 0.60 €/kWh114 km28 kWh consumed0.148 €/km16.93 €
Trip total86.68 €

BMW i4 eDrive35 G26

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Beaune, A6initial energy charged at home · 0.20 €/kWh271 km60 kWh consumed0.045 €/km12.08 €
Beaune, A6 → Limonest, A6energy charged at Ionity 179 kW · 0.60 €/kWh120 km27 kWh consumed0.134 €/km16.10 €
Limonest, A6 → Valence, A7energy charged at Ionity 179 kW · 0.60 €/kWh120 km27 kWh consumed0.134 €/km16.10 €
Valence, A7 → Montélimar, A7energy charged at Ionity 179 kW · 0.60 €/kWh120 km27 kWh consumed0.134 €/km16.10 €
Montélimar, A7 → Marseilleenergy charged at Ionity 155 kW · 0.60 €/kWh144 km32 kWh consumed0.134 €/km19.24 €
Trip total79.64 €

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 durationTesla Model S 85BMW i4 eDrive35 G26
5 minutes~28 km~47 km
10 minutes~57 km~94 km
20 minutes~114 km~188 km
Full session 10 → 80 %~220 km · 42 min~210 km · 24 min

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
23.5 kWh/100 km · 18.6 kWh/100 km
Net battery
77.5 kWh · 67.1 kWh
Max DC charging
120 kW · 180 kW

Compare with another vehicle

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

TeslaBEV

Model S 85

362 ch · 77.5 kWh · 2012

BMWBEV

i4 eDrive35 G26

286 ch · 67.1 kWh · 2024

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSTesla

A6 Avant e-tron vs Model S 85

BMWVSTesla

i4 eDrive35 vs Model 3 RWD

BMWVSTesla

i5 xDrive40 vs Model S 85

BMWVSTesla

i4 eDrive35 vs Model 3 Long Range RWD

Frequently asked questions

The advantage comes from the combo real range + charging speed. On Paris → Marseille (775 km at 130 km/h), the i4 eDrive35 G26 arrives in 7h44 with 4 charging stops.

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 86.68 € (Model S 85) and 79.64 € (i4 eDrive35 G26). For reference, an equivalent BMW 530i (~8.0 L/100 km) would cost about 115 € in fuel.