In our Rome to Sofia EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range by 87 minutes, completing the 1651km route in 16h 25min. The key advantage? 4 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 2, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive needs only 3 charging stops compared to 7 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
- Total time: 16h 25min (87 min faster)
- Charging stops: 3
- Charging time: 54min
- Energy: ~277 kWh
- Distance: 1651km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW iX3 50 xDrive |
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range |
| Travel time |
16h 25min |
17h 52min |
| Charging time: |
54min |
2h 9min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
7 |
| Energy used |
~297 kWh |
~301 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW iX3 50 xDrive Route
- Start: Rome (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Adige Est (10 min, 25% → 72%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (12 min, 10% → 71%)
-
Stop 3:
OMV Martinci (32 min, 10% → 91%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range Route
- Start: Rome (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Cantagallo Est (10 min, 22% → 51%)
-
Stop 2:
Supercharger Omnia Hotel (12 min, 11% → 47%)
-
Stop 3:
Lom east (Koper - Ljubljana) (11 min, 10% → 22%)
-
Stop 4:
Petrol (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 5:
Supercharger Designer Outlet Croatia (28 min, 12% → 73%)
-
Stop 6:
OMV Martinci (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 7:
JP Putevi Srbije (48 min, 16% → 90%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 87-minute advantage over Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range on this 1651km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 3 stops vs 7 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 54min vs 2h 9min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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