In our Sofia to Paris EV duel, the BMW iX3 50 xDrive beats the Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range by 77 minutes, completing the 2156km route in 21h 18min. 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 5 charging stops compared to 9 for the slowest vehicle, saving valuable time.
Winner
BMW iX3 50 xDrive
- Total time: 21h 18min (77 min faster)
- Charging stops: 5
- Charging time: 1h 5min
- Energy: ~362 kWh
- Distance: 2156km
Quick Comparison
| Metric |
BMW iX3 50 xDrive |
Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range |
| Travel time |
21h 18min |
22h 35min |
| Charging time: |
1h 5min |
2h 7min |
| Charging stops: |
5 |
9 |
| Energy used |
~388 kWh |
~388 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:
Genussplatzl Eben - Imbiss, Fleisch & Wurst (11 min, 10% → 71%)
-
Stop 4:
EnBW HyperNetz (13 min, 10% → 76%)
-
Stop 5:
IONITY Verdun Saint-Nicolas Nord (10 min, 10% → 61%)
- Arrival: Paris
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 (10 min, 10% → 39%)
-
Stop 4:
IONITY Avtocestno počivališče Radovljica Sever (12 min, 10% → 46%)
-
Stop 5:
Genussplatzl Eben - Imbiss, Fleisch & Wurst (14 min, 10% → 52%)
-
Stop 6:
Auto & Service PIA Landsberger Straße (16 min, 10% → 59%)
-
Stop 7:
EnBW Schnellladepark A8 (15 min, 10% → 56%)
-
Stop 8:
McDonald's (11 min, 10% → 45%)
-
Stop 9:
Fastned Aire de Valmy Le Moulin (15 min, 10% → 55%)
- Arrival: Paris
Why the BMW iX3 50 xDrive Won
The BMW iX3 50 xDrive achieved a 77-minute advantage over Ford Explorer Elektro Extended Range on this 2156km route. Key factors:
- Fewer charging stops: 5 stops vs 9 for the slowest vehicle means less time spent finding and connecting to chargers.
- Faster charging: Total charging time of 1h 5min vs 2h 7min thanks to higher peak charging speeds or better charging curve.
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