In our Helsinki to Sofia EV duel, the BMW i5 eDrive40 beats the Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range by 31 minutes, completing the 2510km route in 33h 3min. The key advantage? 2 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 6, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 needs only 10 charging stops compared to 12 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW i5 eDrive40
- Total time: 33h 3min (31 min faster)
- Charging stops: 10
- Charging time: 3h 4min
- Energy: ~432 kWh
- Distance: 2510km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW i5 eDrive40 |
Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range |
| Travel time |
33h 3min |
33h 34min |
| Charging time: |
3h 4min |
3h 31min |
| Charging stops: |
10 |
12 |
| Energy used |
~452 kWh |
~454 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW i5 eDrive40 Route
- Start: Helsinki (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
IONITY Circle K Ādaži (10 min, 18% → 55%)
-
Stop 2:
Neste Šilagalio Žiedo (11 min, 15% → 58%)
-
Stop 3:
Kaufland (27 min, 10% → 74%)
-
Stop 4:
Blue City (10 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 5:
Shell MOP West (10 min, 10% → 36%)
-
Stop 6:
HPC Volvo Aleja Powstańców Śląskich (10 min, 12% → 48%)
-
Stop 7:
Tesco Teplická cesta (22 min, 15% → 71%)
-
Stop 8:
Inárcsi pihenőhely Szeged (21 min, 10% → 72%)
-
Stop 9:
OMV smer Beograd (41 min, 10% → 73%)
-
Stop 10:
Naplatna rampa Nais zapadno (22 min, 10% → 47%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range Route
- Start: Helsinki (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Neste (10 min, 25% → 58%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY (10 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 3:
Neste Šilagalio Žiedo (17 min, 22% → 71%)
-
Stop 4:
McDonald's Dubowo Drugie (32 min, 10% → 84%)
-
Stop 5:
Blue City (14 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 6:
Shell MOP West (11 min, 10% → 46%)
-
Stop 7:
Centrum Zakupowe Jan (10 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 8:
Tesco Teplická cesta (15 min, 15% → 64%)
-
Stop 9:
Tesco (10 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 10:
IONITY Csalánosi Csárda (20 min, 12% → 72%)
-
Stop 11:
OMV smer Beograd (41 min, 10% → 86%)
-
Stop 12:
Naplatna rampa Nais zapadno (21 min, 10% → 54%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Why the BMW i5 eDrive40 Won
The BMW i5 eDrive40 achieved a 31-minute advantage over Volvo EX30 Single Motor Extended Range on this 2510km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 10 stops vs 12 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 3h 4min vs 3h 31min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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