In our Sofia to Madrid EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range by 114 minutes, completing the 2922km route in 29h 43min. The key advantage? 5 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 5, 2026 using real-time charging station data.
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive needs only 8 charging stops compared to 13 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
- Total time: 29h 43min (114 min faster)
- Charging stops: 8
- Charging time: 1h 37min
- Energy: ~490 kWh
- Distance: 2922km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW iX3 50 xDrive |
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range |
| Travel time |
29h 43min |
31h 37min |
| Charging time: |
1h 37min |
3h 9min |
| Charging stops: |
8 |
13 |
| Energy used |
~526 kWh |
~526 kWh |
Charging Strategy Breakdown
BMW iX3 50 xDrive Route
- Start: Sofia (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
JP Putevi Srbije (21 min, 38% → 90%)
-
Stop 2:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (10 min, 10% → 61%)
-
Stop 3:
Smatrics Eurospar (14 min, 21% → 82%)
-
Stop 4:
Area di Servizio Stura Ovest (10 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 5:
Aire de Vidauban Nord (12 min, 10% → 68%)
-
Stop 6:
Aire de Gasparets (10 min, 10% → 63%)
-
Stop 7:
IONITY Vila Sana (10 min, 11% → 62%)
-
Stop 8:
Zunder Avia (10 min, 13% → 62%)
- Arrival: Madrid
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range Route
- Start: Sofia (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
OMV A1 (14 min, 13% → 50%)
-
Stop 2:
Tesla Supercharger (20 min, 10% → 64%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (16 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 4:
Fratta Nord (18 min, 10% → 54%)
-
Stop 5:
Electriease Monte Alto Nord (18 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 6:
Area di Servizio Stura Ovest (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 7:
IONITY Rinovo Nord (11 min, 16% → 49%)
-
Stop 8:
Aire de Vidauban Nord (16 min, 10% → 57%)
-
Stop 9:
Aire de Nabrigas (15 min, 10% → 54%)
-
Stop 10:
ANDGO (16 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 11:
IONITY Vila Sana (12 min, 10% → 46%)
-
Stop 12:
Calle Gaspar Torrente (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 13:
IONITY Ariza Norte (13 min, 12% → 52%)
- Arrival: Madrid
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 114-minute advantage over Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range on this 2922km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 8 stops vs 13 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 1h 37min vs 3h 9min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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