BMW 745E PHEV charging cable

The BMW 745e succeeded the four-cylinder 740e as the plug-in hybrid variant of the G11 7 Series, introduced with the 2019 facelift and produced until the G70 generation replaced it in 2022. Its powertrain pairs a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six (210 kW) with an 83 kW electric motor housed within the eight-speed Steptronic gearbox, producing a combined 290 kW and 600 Nm in Sport mode. The standard 745e sends power to the rear wheels and reaches 62 mph in 5.2 seconds. The long-wheelbase 745Le and the all-wheel-drive 745Le xDrive share the same drivetrain, with the xDrive variant reaching the same mark in 5.1 seconds. A 12 kWh battery provides up to 36 miles of WLTP electric range in the short-wheelbase car, dropping to approximately 31–34 miles in the 745Le xDrive. There is no DC rapid charging on any 745e variant. The onboard AC charger operates at 3.7 kW (single-phase, 16A), and the Type 2 charging port is located on the left front wing.

Type 2 cable for the BMW 745e

All 745e variants use a Type 2 connector. The onboard charger draws a maximum of 3.7 kW at 16A on a single phase, which means the cable rating has no effect on charging speed: an 11 kW Voldt® Type 2 cable delivers the full 3.7 kW, and a 22 kW cable does exactly the same, since the car's charger is the limiting factor. The 11 kW cable is the right starting point for the 745e. A 22 kW cable is worth considering only if you share it with a vehicle that can charge faster, or if you plan to keep the cable when you move to a fully electric car with an 11 kW or 22 kW onboard charger. For the 745e itself, the additional spend brings no charging advantage.

With the port on the left front wing, pulling forward into a bay aligns the connector naturally with most wallboxes and public posts. The 745e is a substantial car, especially in Le specification, but the small battery and moderate charge rate mean that cable reach rarely becomes an issue. A 6-metre cable handles most home wallbox installations. An 8-metre cable is the more flexible option for public posts set further from the bay, or where the car's length positions the port further from the pillar than expected.

Portable charging wherever you stop

The 745e's 12 kWh battery is small enough that portable charging becomes genuinely convenient rather than merely possible. The Voldt® blue CEE portable charger delivers 3.7 kW from a 16A single-phase industrial socket, the full rate the 745e's onboard charger can accept. Around four hours covers a charge from near-empty to full, making any campsite, marina, or workshop with a blue CEE socket a practical stop during a longer trip. For a car built around effortless long-distance comfort, the blue CEE charger slots into any overnight pause or extended break along the way.

The Voldt® three-pin portable charger plugs into a standard UK household socket and delivers up to 2.8 kW (13A), within the limits of what your household wiring can sustain. A built-in thermal sensor monitors the connection temperature throughout and adjusts the current if the socket or wiring runs warm. For a battery this size, the three-pin charger is a practical everyday option: approximately four and a half hours from near-empty fills the battery completely, well within an evening at home or an overnight stop anywhere with a standard socket. The 745e's modest electric reserve makes the three-pin one of the more useful portable chargers in the range, delivering a complete top-up from the most accessible power source available.

What every Voldt® cable is built from

Voldt® cables are CE, UKCA and TÜV certified, built to automotive quality standards with single-piece moulded connectors and no glue or screws. IP67-rated for use between −30 °C and +50 °C, with 100% copper conductors and silver-plated contacts throughout. Every cable is tested beyond 10,000 connection cycles. Three-year warranty, 100-day returns, free shipping across Europe.