In our Munich to Köln EV duel, the Aiways U5 beats the BMW i3 42kWh by 35 minutes, completing the 555km route in 6h 4min. The key advantage? 1 fewer charging stop. Route calculated on September 6, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
Despite costing 3,007 less, the Aiways U5 beats the BMW i3 42kWh by 35 minutes on this route.
The Aiways U5 needs only 3 charging stops compared to 4 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
Aiways U5
- Total time: 6h 4min (35 min faster)
- Charging stops: 3
- Charging time: 32min
- Energy: ~104 kWh
- Distance: 555km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Aiways U5 |
BMW i3 42kWh |
| Travel time |
6h 4min |
6h 39min |
| Charging time: |
32min |
1h 10min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
4 |
| Energy used |
~100 kWh |
~100 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Aiways U5 Route
- Start: Munich (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Am Kapellenberg, Eibelstadt (10 min, 21% → 47%)
-
Stop 2:
Aral Tankstelle Aschaffenburger Straße, Kleinostheim (10 min, 19% → 46%)
-
Stop 3:
Nentershausen Ost, Nentershausen (12 min, 10% → 43%)
- Arrival: Köln
BMW i3 42kWh Route
- Start: Munich (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Telekom Luitpoldstraße, Dinkelsbühl (10 min, 34% → 52%)
-
Stop 2:
Am Kapellenberg, Eibelstadt (18 min, 15% → 51%)
-
Stop 3:
Weiskirchen Nord, Rodgau (20 min, 10% → 50%)
-
Stop 4:
Nentershausen Ost, Nentershausen (22 min, 10% → 53%)
- Arrival: Köln
Why the Aiways U5 Won
The Aiways U5 achieved a 35-minute advantage over BMW i3 42kWh on this 555km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 3 stops vs 4 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 32min vs 1h 10min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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