Why I'm buying a PHEV BMW

With all the shouting and screaming in the news about Diesels, I though maybe it was time to ditch the 320D for something a bit different. I had originally planned to buy a Jaguar 3.0 XFS, but that was diesel, and there is no chance I could afford a 3.0 XFS petrol. Looking at other alternatives the BMW 330e caught my eye. After a test drive and much research, I’ve decidied to buy a 330e, and here is why.

1- My driving Suits the PHEV's 'T&C's'

I must say it really winds me up when people slate PHEV’s as “pointless” or sneeringly ask “is that all you can get electric range?” Well for me, my journies, which are almost all close to home and around town, means a PHEV is perfect. Do 80%+ of my driving on electricity, silently and comfortably.

BMW say the 7.5KWh battery can take the 330e 25 miles, in a lab anyway. In the real world you will see around 15-17 miles in good conditions. Off our tariff the 330e will cost 92p to charge meaning if I got 15miles on electricity it works out at 6.1 pp/mile, compared to 11 pp/mile in the 320D knocking around town.

2- The 330e doesn't shout "LOOK AT ME I'M HELPING TO SAVE THE EARTH"

I’m not a ecomentalist in disguise or anything but it’s clear that technology is moving to help preserve the earth and it’s resources, and with more and more people demanding the death of diesels (which I am against), change is coming, whether we like it or not. But there is a certain smugness about people who bang on about how they’re helping save the planet and little children with their ‘eco’ cars. The infrastructure for full EV’s is not there yet in the UK, in my opinion, but a PHEV gets around the ‘range anxiety’ and waiting around for charging, thanks to its 2 Litre twin-scroll turbocharged 4Cyl engine.

The 330e does not have a bright green paint job, trees growing out the grill, or a green peace flag out teh window. The only sign of its ‘eco’ credentials is an ‘E Drive’ badge on the sides. Other than that it’s a normal BMW 3 series; sleek, stylish, well built and so on.

3- It's still got BMW 'DNA'

As clarkson said when he drove the i8 “the solution to conspicuous consumption…isn’t going to be, conspicuous consumption. But the benefits for you and I, in the here and now, are simply unbeliveable.”
(Note: Quote not word for word accurate.)

Now iI’m not saying that the 330e is anything like the i8, but let me give you the facts. It has 260BHP combined engine and electric motor, does 0-60 in 6 seconds and can deliver (a claimed) 140+ mpg. Not bad stats, and despite the extra 200Kg from the batteries and motor, it still drives like a BMW, and still retains it’s 50:50 weight distribution.

Driving the 330e you don’t feel like you’re driving around in a 70’s Land Rover, swaying from side to side as you go round a slight corner. Its feels incredibaly planted, you really dont feel the extra weight at all. Stick it into sports mode and the engine and electric motor work togther to give you every drop of power on tap, and I tell you now, it’s more than quick enough to warrent the ‘330’ part of its name.

4- It's superbly refined

Diesels have one big drawback in my opinion, the fact they are noisy and sound so unrefined. I know diesels have come a long way, but to me the 330e’s combo of electricity and petrol is a win win, as its so smooth and quiet no matter what driving you are doing.

Drive around in absaloute silence, then put your foot down hard and the petrol engine gives off a surpisingly pleasent noise. Even driving around the swith from EDrive to petrol (and vice versa) is absaloutley seemless, most the time you don’t even realise its happened.

Even with the technology like the iDrive system and phone app to monitor charging and pre heat the car, is just so well thought out and superbly well done. Heck, the car will even decide the best places for electric drive and petrol propultion, if the sat nav is programmed.

Overall I do feel like PHEV cars are more of an intermitant stage, as the technology and infrastructure gets to an acceptable level for full EV’s (even if that is 10+ years away). The 330e and other PHEV’s are great, so long as your driving commute / journies suit mostly electric driving.

I’m really looking forward to my PHEV experience as I get to grips owning one. Hopefully I will report back with good news, as far as enjoyment goes. I think that rather than shun technology advancements we should embrace it for our own benefit, I mean 6 seconds to 60, potentially 100+ mpg, along with BMW driving dynamics, is a pretty tasty combination.