In our Sofia to Athens EV duel, the BMW i5 eDrive40 beats the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 55 by 41 minutes, completing the 789km route in 8h 52min. The key advantage? 2 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 8, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 55's 480km range doesn't beat the BMW i5 eDrive40's 465km here - charging speed and efficiency matter more.
The BMW i5 eDrive40 needs only 2 charging stops compared to 4 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW i5 eDrive40
- Total time: 8h 52min (41 min faster)
- Charging stops: 2
- Charging time: 23min
- Energy: ~136 kWh
- Distance: 789km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 55 |
BMW i5 eDrive40 |
| Travel time |
9h 33min |
8h 52min |
| Charging time: |
1h 3min |
23min |
| Charging stops: |
4 |
2 |
| Energy used |
~142 kWh |
~142 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 55 Route
- Start: Sofia (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Fines (10 min, 50% → 68%)
-
Stop 2:
Skotina dir Athen (27 min, 10% → 65%)
-
Stop 3:
Shell (10 min, 10% → 34%)
-
Stop 4:
Atalanti Süd (16 min, 14% → 49%)
- Arrival: Athens
BMW i5 eDrive40 Route
- Start: Sofia (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
Skotina dir Athen (10 min, 15% → 54%)
-
Stop 2:
Shell (13 min, 10% → 56%)
- Arrival: Athens
Why the BMW i5 eDrive40 Won
The BMW i5 eDrive40 achieved a 41-minute advantage over Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron 55 on this 789km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 2 stops vs 4 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 23min vs 1h 3min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~136 kWh vs ~174 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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