In our Rome to Sofia EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range AWD by 84 minutes, completing the 1651km route in 16h 25min. The key advantage? 3 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 7, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive needs only 3 charging stops compared to 6 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
- Total time: 16h 25min (84 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 AWD |
| Travel time |
16h 25min |
17h 49min |
| Charging time: |
54min |
1h 42min |
| Charging stops: |
3 |
6 |
| Energy used |
~297 kWh |
~297 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 AWD Route
- Start: Rome (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Area di Servizio Castel Bentivoglio Est (10 min, 10% → 47%)
-
Stop 2:
Supercharger Omnia Hotel (11 min, 10% → 51%)
-
Stop 3:
Barje Jug (10 min, 10% → 46%)
-
Stop 4:
Supercharger Designer Outlet Croatia (23 min, 11% → 77%)
-
Stop 5:
OMV Martinci (26 min, 10% → 81%)
-
Stop 6:
Naplatna rampa Nais zapadno (22 min, 10% → 48%)
- Arrival: Sofia
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 84-minute advantage over Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range AWD on this 1651km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 3 stops vs 6 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 54min vs 1h 42min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~277 kWh vs ~290 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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