In our Athens to Riga EV duel, the BMW i5 eDrive40 beats the VW ID. Buzz Pro LR by 121 minutes, completing the 2814km route in 33h 4min. The key advantage? 2 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 4, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 needs only 12 charging stops compared to 14 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW i5 eDrive40
- Total time: 33h 4min (121 min faster)
- Charging stops: 12
- Charging time: 3h 10min
- Energy: ~484 kWh
- Distance: 2814km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW i5 eDrive40 |
VW ID. Buzz Pro LR |
| Travel time |
33h 4min |
35h 5min |
| Charging time: |
3h 10min |
5h 15min |
| Charging stops: |
12 |
14 |
| Energy used |
~507 kWh |
~505 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW i5 eDrive40 Route
- Start: Athens (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Skotina dir Thessaloniki (11 min, 11% → 54%)
-
Stop 2:
Makpetrol A1 (10 min, 10% → 35%)
-
Stop 3:
Makpetrol A1 (10 min, 14% → 47%)
-
Stop 4:
Naplatna rampa Nais istočno (31 min, 10% → 62%)
-
Stop 5:
OMV Zemun Park (19 min, 10% → 70%)
-
Stop 6:
IONITY Csalánosi Csárda (10 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 7:
Tesco (17 min, 21% → 69%)
-
Stop 8:
Biedronka Lotników (16 min, 10% → 52%)
-
Stop 9:
Shell MOP East (10 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 10:
Wodny Park Warszawianka (22 min, 10% → 71%)
-
Stop 11:
McDonald's Dubowo Drugie (24 min, 10% → 62%)
-
Stop 12:
Neste Šilagalio Žiedo (10 min, 10% → 50%)
- Arrival: Riga
VW ID. Buzz Pro LR Route
- Start: Athens (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Shell (10 min, 44% → 63%)
-
Stop 2:
Skotina dir Thessaloniki (23 min, 10% → 64%)
-
Stop 3:
Makpetrol A1 (10 min, 10% → 35%)
-
Stop 4:
Makpetrol A1 (18 min, 10% → 55%)
-
Stop 5:
Naplatna rampa Nais istočno (40 min, 10% → 73%)
-
Stop 6:
OMV Zemun Park (36 min, 10% → 83%)
-
Stop 7:
IONITY Csalánosi Csárda (12 min, 10% → 45%)
-
Stop 8:
Tesco (23 min, 10% → 64%)
-
Stop 9:
Kaufland Wolkera (17 min, 10% → 43%)
-
Stop 10:
Centrum Zakupowe Jan (13 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 11:
Shell MOP East (19 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 12:
Lakeside (38 min, 10% → 85%)
-
Stop 13:
McDonald's Dubowo Drugie (46 min, 10% → 89%)
-
Stop 14:
Cafe Baltica (10 min, 10% → 38%)
- Arrival: Riga
Why the BMW i5 eDrive40 Won
The BMW i5 eDrive40 achieved a 121-minute advantage over VW ID. Buzz Pro LR on this 2814km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 12 stops vs 14 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 3h 10min vs 5h 15min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~484 kWh vs ~622 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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