What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan?
You need a 48 amp Level 2 home charging setup to fill your BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan overnight. The car limits your charging speed because its onboard charger handles 11.0 kW at most. Buy accordingly. Going bigger wastes money on equipment the car cannot use.
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 8.6 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 34 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 66 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 4.5 miles |
| EPA rated range | 295 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 95.0 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
The 95.0 kWh battery requires 48 amps of current to hit a full charge in 8.6 hours. If you plug into a larger charger, the car still pulls only 48 amps because that is the physical limit of the onboard hardware. Pumping more power upstream changes nothing at the battery. You add 34 miles of range every hour at this rate. Buying a 50 amp unit like the ChargePoint Home Flex allows you to step down the output in the app if your electrical panel lacks capacity.
What the install involves
A 48 amp continuous load requires a 60 amp breaker on your home electrical panel. You cannot use a standard wall outlet because no household receptacle handles 48 amps safely. The hardware must be hardwired directly into the electrical supply. Call an electrician to run heavy gauge wire and install the breaker. They will mount the unit securely to your garage wall.
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
- What plug does the car use?
- Your car uses a standard J1772 connector for all AC Level 2 charging. This plug fits every non Tesla EV sold in North America through 2024. You do not need adapters for home use.
- How long does a standard wall outlet take?
- Level 1 charging from a standard household outlet takes 66 hours to reach full capacity. You get 4.5 miles of range per hour this way. Upgrade to Level 2 immediately.
- Why does the EPA charge time differ from the max rate?
- The EPA lists an 8.0 hour charge time yielding 37 miles per hour instead of 8.6 hours at 34 miles per hour because government test procedures vary slightly from peak real world conditions. Both numbers reflect typical charging behavior.
- Which charger should I buy?
- The Emporia Level 2 EV Charger 48A and the Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48A both deliver the maximum 48 amps your car accepts. Hardwire either unit for the best performance.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2024 BMW i5 eDrive40 Sedan (covering 3 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.