In our Madrid to Sofia EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range by 145 minutes, completing the 2918km route in 29h 39min. The key advantage? 6 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 7, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive needs only 6 charging stops compared to 12 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
- Total time: 29h 39min (145 min faster)
- Charging stops: 6
- Charging time: 1h 43min
- Energy: ~489 kWh
- Distance: 2918km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW iX3 50 xDrive |
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range |
| Travel time |
29h 39min |
32h 4min |
| Charging time: |
1h 43min |
3h 42min |
| Charging stops: |
6 |
12 |
| Energy used |
~525 kWh |
~527 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW iX3 50 xDrive Route
- Start: Madrid (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
IONITY Vila Sana (12 min, 18% → 76%)
-
Stop 2:
Aire de Loupian (19 min, 10% → 88%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY Ceriale Sud (10 min, 10% → 63%)
-
Stop 4:
Monte Alto Sud (18 min, 10% → 84%)
-
Stop 5:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (12 min, 10% → 71%)
-
Stop 6:
OMV Martinci (32 min, 10% → 91%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range Route
- Start: Madrid (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Calle Gaspar Torrente (15 min, 32% → 66%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY Mas de la Sala (21 min, 10% → 65%)
-
Stop 3:
Aire de Lespignan Sud (18 min, 10% → 61%)
-
Stop 4:
Aire de l'Arc (16 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 5:
Conioli Sud (12 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 6:
Area di Servizio Stura Est (16 min, 10% → 57%)
-
Stop 7:
Monte Alto Sud (10 min, 10% → 41%)
-
Stop 8:
Vega (18 min, 10% → 61%)
-
Stop 9:
Petrol (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 10:
Supercharger Designer Outlet Croatia (28 min, 12% → 73%)
-
Stop 11:
OMV Martinci (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 12:
JP Putevi Srbije (48 min, 16% → 90%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 145-minute advantage over Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range on this 2918km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 6 stops vs 12 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 1h 43min vs 3h 42min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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