BMW i5 eDrive40 vs Audi A6 e-tron performance: charging cost, time & specs in United States
A side-by-side comparison of the BMW i5 eDrive40 and Audi A6 e-tron performance for buyers in United States: battery, charging speed, realistic range and what each costs to charge at home and at a public DC station.
Specifications side by side
Units
| Specification | BMW i5 eDrive40 | Audi A6 e-tron performance |
|---|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 81.2 kWh | 94.9 kWh (best) |
| DC fast-charge power (peak) | 205 kW | 270 kW (best) |
| Real 10-80% DC time | 29 minutes | 23 minutes (best) |
| AC charge power (onboard) | 11 kW (best) | 11 kW (best) |
| Manufacturer-claimed range | 310 mi (EPA) | 392 mi (EPA) (best) |
| Realistic range estimate | 310 mi | 392 mi (best) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
Charging cost comparison
| Scenario | BMW i5 eDrive40 | Audi A6 e-tron performance |
|---|---|---|
| At home (AC) 20% → 80% | $8.77 (best) | $10.25 |
| Public DC 20% → 80% | $23.39 (best) | $27.33 |
Key differences
- Audi A6 e-tron performance carries the bigger battery (94.9 kWh vs 81.2 kWh), about 17% more capacity.
- Audi A6 e-tron performance charges faster on DC (65 kW higher peak, ultra-fast DC vs ultra-fast DC).
- Audi A6 e-tron performance drives farther, about 82 mi more on a realistic range basis.
- Both use NMC batteries, so their charging behaviour and care are similar.
- Audi A6 e-tron performance is more energy efficient, by about 50.4 mi/kWh.
What the numbers say
- Faster to 80%: Audi A6 e-tron performance (about 6 minutes ahead of BMW i5 eDrive40).
- Goes further on a charge: Audi A6 e-tron performance (about 82 mi more than BMW i5 eDrive40, realistic).
- Cheaper to charge at home: BMW i5 eDrive40 (about $1.48 less than Audi A6 e-tron performance).
- Cheaper at a public DC charger: BMW i5 eDrive40 (about $3.95 less than Audi A6 e-tron performance).
As of 2026-05-29
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to charge, the BMW i5 eDrive40 or the Audi A6 e-tron performance?
- At a public DC charger (20-80%), the BMW i5 eDrive40 is the cheaper of the two at about $23.39.
Which charges faster, the BMW i5 eDrive40 or the Audi A6 e-tron performance?
- The Audi A6 e-tron performance reaches 80% sooner, taking about 20 minutes on DC fast charging.
What is a BEV, and how is it different from an EV, PHEV, and HEV?
- EV (electric vehicle) is an umbrella term for any vehicle driven by an electric motor. A BEV (battery electric vehicle) is a fully electric car powered entirely by its battery and charged from the electricity grid, with no petrol engine. This is the type this calculator is built for. A PHEV (plug-in hybrid) pairs a petrol engine with a battery you can charge from the grid. An HEV is an ordinary hybrid that can't be plugged in; its battery recharges itself while you drive. There are also FCEVs, which run on hydrogen fuel cells. This calculator is for cars you charge from the grid (BEVs, and PHEVs in electric mode), so ordinary hybrids like the Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid or Nissan Kicks e-Power aren't included.