BMW of North America just confirmed the US iX3 50 xDrive gets 112.2 kWh of usable battery capacity. In contrast, the European version gets 108 kWh. So why the difference in size? Here’s what’s happening: BMW reserves more battery capacity on American models—capacity that just sits there, inaccessible to you. Those locked-away reserves exist to protect against complete depletion and keep the battery healthy longer. Why? Because American warranty standards are strictersSo manufacturers play it conservative.
This applies to other models as well, including plug-in hybrids. For example, the X5 50e gets a 19.2 kWh usable battery pack in the United States. Europeans get 25.7 kWh. That’s a 34 percent difference for the identical car.Translation: 40-ish miles of electric range in the US, 60+ miles in Europe. Same platform, same pack architecture, completely different real-world capability because of how warranties and regulations treat battery management.
Why EPA and WLTP Aren’t Apples-to-Apples
Additionally, Europe tests the electric range under the WLTP standard—basically city traffic, suburban cruising, lower speeds, frequent stops. The US EPA test throws in highway cycles because we tend to do a lot of highway driving on this side of the pond so the driving characteristics change a bit. This testing difference forces different engineering decisions. EPA testing is tougher on the battery, so American manufacturers engineer larger buffer zones to survive the more demanding protocol.
Starting in 2024, the EPA changed how it tests electric vehicles specifically. If your EV has multiple driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport), manufacturers now have to test either the worst-case scenario mode only, or average the best and worst modes together. Either way, the range figure you see published is based on driving in one specific mode—not how most people actually drive.
The upcoming BMW iX3 (Neue Klasse) is estimated to have an EPA range of around 400 miles, though official EPA certification is pending as it launches in the U.S. in mid-2026. This estimate comes from BMW’s preliminary tests, with the 50 xDrive model. We expect to learn more about the range, pricing, packages and options in March 2026.
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
