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The Ultimate BMW i8 Charging Guide

Published on
May 5, 2023

Key Points:

  • The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV and is jointly powered by a petrol-based internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
  • The i8 has a relatively small battery, which comes in two different sizes. The smaller 7.1 kWh battery is typically found in the 2015 - 2017 models, while the 2018 and newer models have the 11.6 kWh battery.
  • The i8 can be charged using both level 1 slow charging and level 2 fast charging, but it is not capable of receiving a rapid charge.
  • Charging at home on a domestic energy plan is the most straightforward charging method for the i8 and can be done using the 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that comes with the car. However, you can also have a fast-charging pod installed at home with some additional installation costs.
  • When you’re out and about, there are a number of ways to find charging services near you. We’d strongly recommend using the Bonnet app to find commercial charging services and benefit from fixed pricing across the UK and Europe. 

Looking to buy a BMW i8? You’ll want to learn everything there is to know about charging this EV, including how to charge it, how long its charging time is, and what it costs to charge it. We’ll cover all this and a bit more in this guide. Let’s dive right in!

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV, which means it has both a petrol-fueled internal combustion engine and an electric engine powered by a 7.1 kWh battery for 2015 - 2017 models and an 11.6 kWh battery for newer models up to the 2020 version. The i8 has a maximum rate of charge of 3.7 kWh, but its relatively small battery means it doesn’t require too much time for a full charge. 

You’ll have a range of charging options that include charging at home, at public destinations or at commercial charging stations. 

How to Charge the BMW i8

Charging the BMW i8 is relatively straightforward. First, you’ll need to locate its charge port, which can be found on the left side of the front of the car, adjacent to the tyre.

For charging at home, the i8 comes with a complimentary BMW charging cable – a 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that allows the vehicle to draw energy from domestic energy sources. To get started, you should first plug the charging cable into the chosen wall socket. 

Keep in mind that you should not plug the cable into an extension socket, nor should you plug any other appliances into the same wall socket, as doing so could overload it.

When the LED on the charging cable turns green, then you can plug it into the i8’s charging inlet. Charging failures are rare, but when they happen, they are easy to fix. A red blinking light will indicate a charging failure, and all you’ll have to do is disconnect the charger from the i8 and restart the process. 

Domestic energy plans emit a relatively low energy output of around 2.3 kW, so charging this way tends to be the slowest method but cheapest. That said, there are other ways to charge an i8, which include installing a dedicated home charging pod for fast charging, charging at public locations (usually fast charging too), or using a commercial charging service. For fast charging, you’ll need a type-2-to-type-2 cable.

What Is the BMW i8 Charge Time?

When it comes to the BMW i8 charging time, as with any other EV, the amount of time it takes to charge largely depends on your choice of charging method. 

Level 1 charging is the slowest method. Since level 1 charging is usually done at home, you’ll be charging at a rate of about 2.3 kWh. Given the i8’s relatively small battery capacity of 11.6 kWh, you can achieve a full charge on level 1 charging within five hours.

Fast charging units, which can be installed at home, take less time to charge an EV. For the i8 in particular, you can get a full charge in about three hours. 

As mentioned, the i8 doesn’t have rapid charging capability, but given its small battery size, a level 2 fast charge should be sufficient.

What Is the Average Cost of BMW i8 Charging?

The cost of charging a BMW i8 in the UK depends on a few factors. Principally, these include the cost of your energy plan and the size of your i8’s battery. 

Given the average UK energy cost of 28 p/kWh, we estimate that it could cost around £2 to charge an 11.6 kWh BMW i8 at home. 

Something to keep in mind is that the cost of charging may be even lower if your energy provider offers cheaper rates for off-peak hours. 

Best Way to Charge a BMW i8

The best way to charge a BMW i8 in the UK is to use a dedicated home charging station augmented by public and commercial charging services. 

For level 2 charging at home, you’ll need a dedicated setup, and the BMW i Wallbox is what you’ll be looking for. The i Wallbox delivers up to 7.7 kW and 240 volts of energy.

For installation, you’ll need a professional electrician, which will add to the installation costs. However, you could be eligible for a UK government grant of up to £350.

How to Find the Nearest BMW i8 Charging Station

The UK and Europe have a wide and growing number of commercial and public charging locations. However, finding them can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. The good news is that there are several ways to find charging stations for the BMW i8 in the UK and across Europe:

  1. Check on the BMW Charging App 

BMW has created a dedicated app that helps you find and navigate to charging stations compatible with the i8. The app also compiles and shares data on the availability of these charging points and their respective charging rates.

  1. Check Your Local BMW Dealership

Quite a few BMW dealerships in the UK offer charging stations that are compatible with the i8. You can check with your local BMW dealership to find out if they have any charging facilities.

  1. Use Bonnet

Bonnet is the leading app for finding EV charging stations across the UK and Europe. Not only does Bonnet make it easy to find the best charging services while you’re out and about, but it also allows you to lock in on a single price for all of them.

Get Started with Charging Your i8

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV that comes with one of two potential battery sizes. These are the 7.1 kWh battery typical of the 2015 - 2017 models and the 11.6 kWh battery that comes with the 2018 - 2020 models. 

You can charge your i8 using level 1 and level 2 charging, both of which can be done at home, at work, and at public and commercial charging services. Unlike most EVs, however, the i8 cannot accommodate rapid charging.

The best way to find charging services near you when you’re travelling is to use the Bonnet app, which grants you access to numerous charging services all across the UK and Europe.

FAQs

How do you charge the BMW i8?

You can charge a BMW i8 by connecting it to a 2.3 kWh household current or by connecting it to a fast charging unit. Level 2 charging is typically faster than level 1 charging. 

How long does it take to fully charge the BMW i8?

When charging on a domestic 120-volt, 2.3 kWh current, you can charge the BMW i8 in about five hours. On a 240-volt, 3.6 kWh current, charging an i8 will take about three hours. 

Can you run an i8 without charging?

The i8 is a hybrid vehicle, which means it can run on either electric power or petrol power – or both simultaneously. When both its electric and ICE engines are running, the i8 is an all-wheel drive car. When driven solely on electric power, the car becomes front-wheel drive, and similarly, when driven solely on its internal combustion engine, it’s a rear-wheel drive car.

How do I know when my BMW i8 is fully charged?

When fully charged, the BMW i8 charger will display a green light.

May 5, 2023

Key Points:

  • The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV and is jointly powered by a petrol-based internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
  • The i8 has a relatively small battery, which comes in two different sizes. The smaller 7.1 kWh battery is typically found in the 2015 - 2017 models, while the 2018 and newer models have the 11.6 kWh battery.
  • The i8 can be charged using both level 1 slow charging and level 2 fast charging, but it is not capable of receiving a rapid charge.
  • Charging at home on a domestic energy plan is the most straightforward charging method for the i8 and can be done using the 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that comes with the car. However, you can also have a fast-charging pod installed at home with some additional installation costs.
  • When you’re out and about, there are a number of ways to find charging services near you. We’d strongly recommend using the Bonnet app to find commercial charging services and benefit from fixed pricing across the UK and Europe. 

Looking to buy a BMW i8? You’ll want to learn everything there is to know about charging this EV, including how to charge it, how long its charging time is, and what it costs to charge it. We’ll cover all this and a bit more in this guide. Let’s dive right in!

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV, which means it has both a petrol-fueled internal combustion engine and an electric engine powered by a 7.1 kWh battery for 2015 - 2017 models and an 11.6 kWh battery for newer models up to the 2020 version. The i8 has a maximum rate of charge of 3.7 kWh, but its relatively small battery means it doesn’t require too much time for a full charge. 

You’ll have a range of charging options that include charging at home, at public destinations or at commercial charging stations. 

How to Charge the BMW i8

Charging the BMW i8 is relatively straightforward. First, you’ll need to locate its charge port, which can be found on the left side of the front of the car, adjacent to the tyre.

For charging at home, the i8 comes with a complimentary BMW charging cable – a 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that allows the vehicle to draw energy from domestic energy sources. To get started, you should first plug the charging cable into the chosen wall socket. 

Keep in mind that you should not plug the cable into an extension socket, nor should you plug any other appliances into the same wall socket, as doing so could overload it.

When the LED on the charging cable turns green, then you can plug it into the i8’s charging inlet. Charging failures are rare, but when they happen, they are easy to fix. A red blinking light will indicate a charging failure, and all you’ll have to do is disconnect the charger from the i8 and restart the process. 

Domestic energy plans emit a relatively low energy output of around 2.3 kW, so charging this way tends to be the slowest method but cheapest. That said, there are other ways to charge an i8, which include installing a dedicated home charging pod for fast charging, charging at public locations (usually fast charging too), or using a commercial charging service. For fast charging, you’ll need a type-2-to-type-2 cable.

What Is the BMW i8 Charge Time?

When it comes to the BMW i8 charging time, as with any other EV, the amount of time it takes to charge largely depends on your choice of charging method. 

Level 1 charging is the slowest method. Since level 1 charging is usually done at home, you’ll be charging at a rate of about 2.3 kWh. Given the i8’s relatively small battery capacity of 11.6 kWh, you can achieve a full charge on level 1 charging within five hours.

Fast charging units, which can be installed at home, take less time to charge an EV. For the i8 in particular, you can get a full charge in about three hours. 

As mentioned, the i8 doesn’t have rapid charging capability, but given its small battery size, a level 2 fast charge should be sufficient.

What Is the Average Cost of BMW i8 Charging?

The cost of charging a BMW i8 in the UK depends on a few factors. Principally, these include the cost of your energy plan and the size of your i8’s battery. 

Given the average UK energy cost of 28 p/kWh, we estimate that it could cost around £2 to charge an 11.6 kWh BMW i8 at home. 

Something to keep in mind is that the cost of charging may be even lower if your energy provider offers cheaper rates for off-peak hours. 

Best Way to Charge a BMW i8

The best way to charge a BMW i8 in the UK is to use a dedicated home charging station augmented by public and commercial charging services. 

For level 2 charging at home, you’ll need a dedicated setup, and the BMW i Wallbox is what you’ll be looking for. The i Wallbox delivers up to 7.7 kW and 240 volts of energy.

For installation, you’ll need a professional electrician, which will add to the installation costs. However, you could be eligible for a UK government grant of up to £350.

How to Find the Nearest BMW i8 Charging Station

The UK and Europe have a wide and growing number of commercial and public charging locations. However, finding them can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. The good news is that there are several ways to find charging stations for the BMW i8 in the UK and across Europe:

  1. Check on the BMW Charging App 

BMW has created a dedicated app that helps you find and navigate to charging stations compatible with the i8. The app also compiles and shares data on the availability of these charging points and their respective charging rates.

  1. Check Your Local BMW Dealership

Quite a few BMW dealerships in the UK offer charging stations that are compatible with the i8. You can check with your local BMW dealership to find out if they have any charging facilities.

  1. Use Bonnet

Bonnet is the leading app for finding EV charging stations across the UK and Europe. Not only does Bonnet make it easy to find the best charging services while you’re out and about, but it also allows you to lock in on a single price for all of them.

Get Started with Charging Your i8

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV that comes with one of two potential battery sizes. These are the 7.1 kWh battery typical of the 2015 - 2017 models and the 11.6 kWh battery that comes with the 2018 - 2020 models. 

You can charge your i8 using level 1 and level 2 charging, both of which can be done at home, at work, and at public and commercial charging services. Unlike most EVs, however, the i8 cannot accommodate rapid charging.

The best way to find charging services near you when you’re travelling is to use the Bonnet app, which grants you access to numerous charging services all across the UK and Europe.

Key Points:

  • The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV and is jointly powered by a petrol-based internal combustion engine and an electric motor.
  • The i8 has a relatively small battery, which comes in two different sizes. The smaller 7.1 kWh battery is typically found in the 2015 - 2017 models, while the 2018 and newer models have the 11.6 kWh battery.
  • The i8 can be charged using both level 1 slow charging and level 2 fast charging, but it is not capable of receiving a rapid charge.
  • Charging at home on a domestic energy plan is the most straightforward charging method for the i8 and can be done using the 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that comes with the car. However, you can also have a fast-charging pod installed at home with some additional installation costs.
  • When you’re out and about, there are a number of ways to find charging services near you. We’d strongly recommend using the Bonnet app to find commercial charging services and benefit from fixed pricing across the UK and Europe. 

Looking to buy a BMW i8? You’ll want to learn everything there is to know about charging this EV, including how to charge it, how long its charging time is, and what it costs to charge it. We’ll cover all this and a bit more in this guide. Let’s dive right in!

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV, which means it has both a petrol-fueled internal combustion engine and an electric engine powered by a 7.1 kWh battery for 2015 - 2017 models and an 11.6 kWh battery for newer models up to the 2020 version. The i8 has a maximum rate of charge of 3.7 kWh, but its relatively small battery means it doesn’t require too much time for a full charge. 

You’ll have a range of charging options that include charging at home, at public destinations or at commercial charging stations. 

How to Charge the BMW i8

Charging the BMW i8 is relatively straightforward. First, you’ll need to locate its charge port, which can be found on the left side of the front of the car, adjacent to the tyre.

For charging at home, the i8 comes with a complimentary BMW charging cable – a 3-pin-to-type-2 cable that allows the vehicle to draw energy from domestic energy sources. To get started, you should first plug the charging cable into the chosen wall socket. 

Keep in mind that you should not plug the cable into an extension socket, nor should you plug any other appliances into the same wall socket, as doing so could overload it.

When the LED on the charging cable turns green, then you can plug it into the i8’s charging inlet. Charging failures are rare, but when they happen, they are easy to fix. A red blinking light will indicate a charging failure, and all you’ll have to do is disconnect the charger from the i8 and restart the process. 

Domestic energy plans emit a relatively low energy output of around 2.3 kW, so charging this way tends to be the slowest method but cheapest. That said, there are other ways to charge an i8, which include installing a dedicated home charging pod for fast charging, charging at public locations (usually fast charging too), or using a commercial charging service. For fast charging, you’ll need a type-2-to-type-2 cable.

What Is the BMW i8 Charge Time?

When it comes to the BMW i8 charging time, as with any other EV, the amount of time it takes to charge largely depends on your choice of charging method. 

Level 1 charging is the slowest method. Since level 1 charging is usually done at home, you’ll be charging at a rate of about 2.3 kWh. Given the i8’s relatively small battery capacity of 11.6 kWh, you can achieve a full charge on level 1 charging within five hours.

Fast charging units, which can be installed at home, take less time to charge an EV. For the i8 in particular, you can get a full charge in about three hours. 

As mentioned, the i8 doesn’t have rapid charging capability, but given its small battery size, a level 2 fast charge should be sufficient.

What Is the Average Cost of BMW i8 Charging?

The cost of charging a BMW i8 in the UK depends on a few factors. Principally, these include the cost of your energy plan and the size of your i8’s battery. 

Given the average UK energy cost of 28 p/kWh, we estimate that it could cost around £2 to charge an 11.6 kWh BMW i8 at home. 

Something to keep in mind is that the cost of charging may be even lower if your energy provider offers cheaper rates for off-peak hours. 

Best Way to Charge a BMW i8

The best way to charge a BMW i8 in the UK is to use a dedicated home charging station augmented by public and commercial charging services. 

For level 2 charging at home, you’ll need a dedicated setup, and the BMW i Wallbox is what you’ll be looking for. The i Wallbox delivers up to 7.7 kW and 240 volts of energy.

For installation, you’ll need a professional electrician, which will add to the installation costs. However, you could be eligible for a UK government grant of up to £350.

How to Find the Nearest BMW i8 Charging Station

The UK and Europe have a wide and growing number of commercial and public charging locations. However, finding them can be tricky if you don’t know where to look. The good news is that there are several ways to find charging stations for the BMW i8 in the UK and across Europe:

  1. Check on the BMW Charging App 

BMW has created a dedicated app that helps you find and navigate to charging stations compatible with the i8. The app also compiles and shares data on the availability of these charging points and their respective charging rates.

  1. Check Your Local BMW Dealership

Quite a few BMW dealerships in the UK offer charging stations that are compatible with the i8. You can check with your local BMW dealership to find out if they have any charging facilities.

  1. Use Bonnet

Bonnet is the leading app for finding EV charging stations across the UK and Europe. Not only does Bonnet make it easy to find the best charging services while you’re out and about, but it also allows you to lock in on a single price for all of them.

Get Started with Charging Your i8

The BMW i8 is a hybrid EV that comes with one of two potential battery sizes. These are the 7.1 kWh battery typical of the 2015 - 2017 models and the 11.6 kWh battery that comes with the 2018 - 2020 models. 

You can charge your i8 using level 1 and level 2 charging, both of which can be done at home, at work, and at public and commercial charging services. Unlike most EVs, however, the i8 cannot accommodate rapid charging.

The best way to find charging services near you when you’re travelling is to use the Bonnet app, which grants you access to numerous charging services all across the UK and Europe.

FAQs

How do you charge the BMW i8?

You can charge a BMW i8 by connecting it to a 2.3 kWh household current or by connecting it to a fast charging unit. Level 2 charging is typically faster than level 1 charging. 

How long does it take to fully charge the BMW i8?

When charging on a domestic 120-volt, 2.3 kWh current, you can charge the BMW i8 in about five hours. On a 240-volt, 3.6 kWh current, charging an i8 will take about three hours. 

Can you run an i8 without charging?

The i8 is a hybrid vehicle, which means it can run on either electric power or petrol power – or both simultaneously. When both its electric and ICE engines are running, the i8 is an all-wheel drive car. When driven solely on electric power, the car becomes front-wheel drive, and similarly, when driven solely on its internal combustion engine, it’s a rear-wheel drive car.

How do I know when my BMW i8 is fully charged?

When fully charged, the BMW i8 charger will display a green light.

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