What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe?
A full charge takes 8.5 hours at the maximum Level 2 rate. That easily clears a full refill during standard overnight off-peak hours. Your car pulls up to 11.0 kW. You need a 48 amp EVSE to hit that peak speed.
The numbers
| Maximum AC charging rate | 11.0 kW (48 A) |
|---|---|
| Charger size to buy | 48 A |
| Circuit breaker required | 60 A |
| Outlet / connection | hardwired (a 48 A EVSE must be hardwired -- no household receptacle is rated for it) |
| Charge port | J1772 |
| Full charge on Level 2 | about 8.5 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 36 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 65 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 4.7 miles |
| EPA rated range | 301 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 93.1 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
The onboard charger maxes out at 48 amps. Buying a larger unit like a 50 amp charger will not speed up the charge because the car limits the intake. Feeding it 48 amps gives you 36 miles of range per hour. Lower amperage supplies deliver fewer miles per hour and drag out the total charging time. Stick strictly to the 48 amp limit.
What the install involves
You need a 60 amp breaker for this setup. A 48 amp EVSE must be hardwired because no household receptacle is rated for that continuous load. Hire an electrician for the wiring job. They will run heavy-gauge wire from your main panel to the charger location and mount the unit securely.
Chargers that match this car
Energy monitoring built in. Hardwire it for the full 48 A.
Compact unit, good for tight garages.
Adjustable from 16 A to 50 A in the app, which helps if your panel is tight.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can I plug this car into a standard wall outlet?
- Level 1 charging takes 65 hours for a full tank. It only delivers 4.7 miles of range per hour. You should use Level 2 hardware instead.
- What plug connector does the car use?
- The car uses a J1772 connector. Every non-Tesla EV sold in North America through 2024 uses this connector for AC Level 2 charging.
- Why does the EPA charge time show 10.0 hours?
- The EPA-rated charge time is 10.0 hours at 30 miles per hour. The EPA test does not always run at the car's peak AC rate.
- Which chargers work with this vehicle?
- You can use the Emporia Level 2 EV Charger 48A, the Lectron V-Box 48A, or the ChargePoint Home Flex. Hardwire these units to get the full amperage output.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2022 BMW i4 eDrive40 Gran Coupe (covering 2 EPA trim listings). Electrical requirements follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a circuit at 125% of a continuous load. Always have a licensed electrician verify your panel.