1. The ICE is always available, but if you're in EV mode, you have to press the accelerator beyond a stop, sort of like an old kickdown on an automatic for the ICE to be engaged.
2. While you may not have enough power to go far on electric alone, but there's essentially always a little power to help boost when you need it. This is true even when the range indictor says zero. One caution, if it's really cold out and you can't recharge when you get home, you should consider using the battery hold function to keep some charge in the batteries.
3. The power/weight ratio is identical to a few hundredths of a hp...from a stop, the 454e is faster since you have max torque at zero. At higher speeds, the 40i has a higher redline and shorter gears, so it's turning faster. As a result, the 45e is more relaxing on a long cruise. I got a bit over 28mpg with a full load on a 2000-mile trip with little opportunity to charge, so was pleased. On that trip, until I was running around the city, I was seeing about 500-miles before I had to fill up again.

 

Thanks - that is very helpful information - especially the power to weight ratio and gearing.

On long highway trips, do you find passing power to be lower than the 40i because the battery is drained? Or does the battery manage some "reserve" in the event you need full power on demand?

 

To add to Jim D's response.
1. Regardless of the drive mode the full power of the sub-5 second 0 to 60 vehicle is always on hand. Hybrid v. Electric modes; BMW (IMO) has done a superb job with the algorithms for the hybrid mode. The battery will be do most of work with the ICE seamlessly being used when needed. In Electric mode the algorithms change to a stronger bias towards the battery allowing speeds up to 80 mph on the battery only and requiring a harder press on the accelerator to activate the ICE. You should not think of it as a sluggish mode, as more power is always available with the press of your foot. The electric power is more than enough in daily driving with the ICE always there when needed.
2. Long road trips, adding to Jim’s response, last summer I took a 3700 mile road trip through Colorado with NO plug-in I got just over 27mpg. Most miles added at the "normal" 75 to 85 mph traffic flow.
3. This is definitely not a vehicle designed for performance, I have f-23 M and the feel is quite different. However the steering while lite is tight and responsive. The air suspension is superb, incredibly smooth and comfortable on the road yet always feeling in solid contact with the road. I personally have not compared the 40i to the 45e, but I doubt there is much, if any, difference in the driving feel between them provided both have the air suspension.

 

Thanks much for the responses.
On another forum, folks who had switched from 40i to 45e said the difference between the two was very slight.
The major difference being the air suspension in the 45e - and they could feel a hard bump more in the 45e due to the extra 600 lbs of battery weight. Those owners said BMW did a great job keeping the driving dynamics similar despite the extra weight.

You all have sold me - now I just need to find one!

 

From a full stop, the 45e may be a bit more responsive as you have full torque of the EV motor. Once you're going a bit, whether the ICE is on or not, on the 40i, a characteristic of all BMW engines is that they produce a bunch of their torque at fairly slow engine speed, but while not instant, it builds quite quickly. This is where the EV motor comes in...there is no delay and it's always there. The redline on the 40i is higher and the gearing is tighter, but the torque on the 45e gets smoothed out because of the MUCH larger EV motor on the 45e versus the mild hybrid on the 40i (don't remember the exact specs, but like 6x more EV motor power).

 

The $7,500 US Federal Tax Credit makes this kind of a no-brainer if you have the time to order one.
My dealer says I'm 4th on the list to get a build slot. They average 1 build slot per month and the March build slot is already taken. So, I'm looking at a July - August build date and delivery 3-6 weeks later. I'm going to get on the list and wait it out!

My SA gave me her impressions of driving a 45e - saying much the same I've read in this forum - quiet, good 30 mile e range, good torque at low speeds, and no perceived performance difference vs. the 40i...and she could feel the extra battery weight going over large bumps.

 

FWIW a build in July may end up being a 2023 MY.