In our Sofia to Madrid EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Tesla Model 3 SR Plus by 104 minutes, completing the 2922km route in 29h 43min. The key advantage? 5 fewer charging stops. Route calculated on September 1, 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 (104 min faster)
- Charging stops: 8
- Charging time: 1h 37min
- Energy: ~490 kWh
- Distance: 2922km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW iX3 50 xDrive |
Tesla Model 3 SR Plus |
| Travel time |
29h 43min |
31h 27min |
| Charging time: |
1h 37min |
2h 45min |
| Charging stops: |
8 |
13 |
| Energy used |
~526 kWh |
~527 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
Tesla Model 3 SR Plus Route
- Start: Sofia (100% charge)
-
Stop 1:
JP Putevi Srbije (14 min, 11% → 63%)
-
Stop 2:
Tesla Supercharger (19 min, 10% → 71%)
-
Stop 3:
IONITY MOL Tankstelle (12 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 4:
Smatrics Risparmio Casa (13 min, 10% → 60%)
-
Stop 5:
Supercharger Tesla Service Center (12 min, 10% → 58%)
-
Stop 6:
Parco Giochi via Angelo Montagna (13 min, 10% → 51%)
-
Stop 7:
IONITY Rinovo Nord (10 min, 10% → 54%)
-
Stop 8:
Aire de Vidauban Nord (14 min, 10% → 63%)
-
Stop 9:
Aire de Nabrigas (13 min, 10% → 60%)
-
Stop 10:
ANDGO (15 min, 10% → 65%)
-
Stop 11:
IONITY Vila Sana (10 min, 10% → 52%)
-
Stop 12:
Calle Gaspar Torrente (10 min, 11% → 50%)
-
Stop 13:
IONITY Ariza Norte (10 min, 20% → 58%)
- Arrival: Madrid
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 104-minute advantage over Tesla Model 3 SR Plus 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 2h 45min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
- Better efficiency: Lower energy consumption (~490 kWh vs ~546 kWh) means less time spent charging.
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