King Charles has been photographed in the back seat of his new electric vehicle — a BMW i7 M70 xDrive worth £170,000 — on his way to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.
The 76-year-old monarch, known for his long-standing environmental advocacy, has begun replacing petrol and diesel vehicles in the royal fleet with greener alternatives. The BMW i7, acquired in February, has a driving range of 341 miles on a single charge and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds.
This move reflects the King's ongoing efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the royal household. In the past, he regularly used a Jaguar I-Pace — the Royal Family’s first all-electric vehicle — which was delivered in 2018 and later sold at auction.
In addition, the royal household is reported to have placed an order for a Lotus Eletre, a £160,000 fully electric SUV known for combining high performance with sustainability.
King Charles has been a prominent voice in environmental issues for decades, advocating for conservation, organic agriculture, and action on climate change. He has also raised concerns about pollution from oil and plastic waste.
As part of a broader push towards sustainability, Sir Michael Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, announced plans last year to convert the two state Bentleys to run on biofuel as a short-term measure before the fleet transitions fully to electric.
The Royal Household’s annual Sovereign Grant report also outlined additional steps, including installing solar panels at Windsor Castle, introducing heat pumps, and replacing gas lanterns at Buckingham Palace with electric lighting.
