BMW iX5 shown charging at up to 460kW in US technology demonstration
BMW says the 460kW Alpitronic hardware used on the iX5 60 xDrive in California is not commercially available in the US today. The demonstration concerns the first battery-electric BMW X5, which launches with BMW's 800V Gen6 eDrive technology.
BMW Group, US charging network IONNA and charger maker Alpitronic demonstrated DC charging at up to 460kW on the new BMW iX5 60 xDrive at an international media event in Laguna Hills, California, BMW Group announced on 20 October 2026.
BMW describes the 460kW charging as a technology demonstration and says it does not represent charging hardware commercially available in the US today. Alpitronic supplied the high-power charging hardware, which BMW says builds on a long-term partnership between the two companies.
BMW claims the iX5 60 xDrive offers up to 460kW peak DC charging power and can add up to 217 miles of WLTP range in 10 minutes. It also says the car's 141kWh (net) battery charges from 10 to 80 per cent in 22 minutes. The release does not say what charger power those charge-time figures assume.
The iX5 is the first battery-electric version of the X5 and is being launched with BMW's sixth-generation eDrive technology, known as Gen6, which debuted in the BMW iX3. BMW says Gen6 uses 800V technology and brings extended range, faster charging and bidirectional charging, with cylindrical battery cells that offer 20% higher volumetric energy density than the Gen5 prismatic cells they replace.
Dr Thomas Engelhardt, BMW Group's senior vice president for high-voltage battery and charging, said: "Charging with up to 460 kW, and many new intelligent Charging functions, are key aspects of the technological leap we are taking with our Gen6 eDrive technology, fully focused on our global customers."
Sources
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