In our Madrid to Bucharest EV duel, the BMW i5 eDrive40 beats the VW ID. Buzz Pro LR by 101 minutes, completing the 3128km route in 36h 34min. The key advantage? 5 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 2, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 needs only 13 charging stops compared to 18 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW i5 eDrive40
- Total time: 36h 34min (101 min faster)
- Charging stops: 13
- Charging time: 3h 53min
- Energy: ~538 kWh
- Distance: 3128km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW i5 eDrive40 |
VW ID. Buzz Pro LR |
| Travel time |
36h 34min |
38h 15min |
| Charging time: |
3h 53min |
5h 27min |
| Charging stops: |
13 |
18 |
| Energy used |
~563 kWh |
~564 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW i5 eDrive40 Route
- Start: Madrid (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Restaurante Cafeteria Valdeherrera (10 min, 50% → 69%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY Vila Sana (14 min, 12% → 61%)
-
Stop 3:
ANDGO (10 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 4:
Aire de Loupian (17 min, 14% → 68%)
-
Stop 5:
IONITY Aire de Vidauban Sud (10 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 6:
Conioli Sud (10 min, 15% → 40%)
-
Stop 7:
Area di Servizio Stura Est (13 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 8:
Monte Alto Sud (15 min, 10% → 63%)
-
Stop 9:
IONITY Risparmio Casa (10 min, 10% → 53%)
-
Stop 10:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (16 min, 10% → 65%)
-
Stop 11:
Tesla Supercharger (13 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 12:
JP Putevi Srbije (16 min, 10% → 62%)
-
Stop 13:
OMV Bulevardul Nicolae Iorga (79 min, 10% → 85%)
- Arrival: Bucharest
VW ID. Buzz Pro LR Route
- Start: Madrid (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Calle Gaspar Torrente (16 min, 15% → 55%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY Vila Sana (10 min, 10% → 38%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY Mas de la Sala (19 min, 13% → 59%)
-
Stop 4:
Aire de Pia (11 min, 10% → 42%)
-
Stop 5:
Aire de Loupian (19 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 6:
Supercharger Mercure Beaumanoir (10 min, 10% → 38%)
-
Stop 7:
IONITY Aire de Vidauban Sud (14 min, 15% → 52%)
-
Stop 8:
Conioli Sud (16 min, 10% → 46%)
-
Stop 9:
Area di Servizio Stura Est (26 min, 10% → 69%)
-
Stop 10:
Monte Alto Sud (14 min, 10% → 49%)
-
Stop 11:
Vega (10 min, 10% → 36%)
-
Stop 12:
IONITY Risparmio Casa (10 min, 10% → 41%)
-
Stop 13:
Barje Jug (15 min, 10% → 51%)
-
Stop 14:
Supercharger Designer Outlet Croatia (40 min, 10% → 88%)
-
Stop 15:
OMV Martinci (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 16:
JP Putevi Srbije (29 min, 10% → 73%)
-
Stop 17:
OMV Bulevardul Nicolae Iorga (29 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 18:
Supercharger Promenada Mall (29 min, 10% → 74%)
- Arrival: Bucharest
Why the BMW i5 eDrive40 Won
The BMW i5 eDrive40 achieved a 101-minute advantage over VW ID. Buzz Pro LR on this 3128km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 13 stops vs 18 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 3h 53min vs 5h 27min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~538 kWh vs ~692 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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