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
AModelBEVvsBZ4Petrol
  • MotorwayMotorwayRange and charging
  • PerformancePerformance0-100, top speed
  • ConsumptionConsumptionYearly cost
  • SpecsModel · Z4

Tesla Model S 85 vs BMW Z4 sDrive30i G29

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

grand tourer · 2012 vs 2021 · Paris → Marseille · 775 km · 130 km/h
TeslaBEV

Model S 85

362 ch · 77.5 kWh · 2012

VS
BMWPetrolPlus rapide

Z4 sDrive30i G29

258 ch · 2021

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

Result · total trip time

ATesla Model S 85

8h09charging included

4 stops · 86.68 €

Gap68 minin favour of Z4 sDrive30i
BBMW Z4 sDrive30i G29

7h01no stop

0 stops · 89.13 €

Paris → Marseille · 130 km/h · Caralogy simulation
MeasureModel S 85Z4 sDrive30i G29Gap
Total time8h097h0168 min · Z4 sDrive30i G29
Charging stops4 stops0 stops4 stops · Z4 sDrive30i G29
Cost of energy used86.68 €89.13 €2.45 € · Model S 85

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
BMWPetrolFastest
Z4 sDrive30i G29
100%
981 km
Range
Paris
0 km · departure
Marseille
775 km · Arrival 7h01
0
Stops
7h01
Duration
89.13 €
Cost of energy used

The 68-minute lead of the Z4 sDrive30i G29 (combustion) comes from not needing a charging stop: no stop versus 4 stops totalling 69 min for the Model S 85 (electric).

Both vehicles drove at 130 km/h for the entire trip. The Z4 sDrive30i G29 (combustion) makes no stop, the Model S 85 (electric) 4 stops totalling 69 min. Road safety reminder: on a trip of this duration, it is recommended to stop for at least 68 min total (17 min every 2h). The energy cost is 86,68 € for Model S 85 versus 89,13 € for Z4 sDrive30i G29.

Motorway consumption: the Caralogy methodology

The official WLTP figures (23,5 kWh/100km for Model S 85 and 6,0 L/100km for Z4 sDrive30i G29) 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 5,3 L/100km (Z4 sDrive30i G29). 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.

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 Z4 sDrive30i G29

SegmentEnergy usedDistanceConsumption€/kmCost (€)
Paris → Marseillefuel · 2.17 €/L775 km41 L consumed0.115 €/km89.13 €
Trip total89.13 €

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 Z4 sDrive30i G29
5 minutes~28 km-
10 minutes~57 km-
20 minutes~114 km-
Full session 10 → 80 %~220 km · 42 min-

What produces these figures

WLTP combined consumption
23.5 kWh/100 km · 6.0 L/100 km

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

BMWPetrol

Z4 sDrive30i G29

258 ch · 2021

Other duels you might be interested in

AudiVSTesla

A6 Avant e-tron vs Model S 85

PorscheVSBMW

Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

BMWVSTesla

i5 xDrive40 vs Model S 85

PorscheVSBMW

Boxster vs Z4 sDrive30i

Frequently asked questions

The advantage comes from the combo real range + charging speed. On Paris → Marseille (775 km at 130 km/h), the Z4 sDrive30i G29 arrives in 7h01 with 0 fuel 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 89.13 € (Z4 sDrive30i G29). For reference, an equivalent BMW 530i (~8.0 L/100 km) would cost about 115 € in fuel.