BMW has put its first Neue Klasse electric vehicle to work in an unconventional role: towing a mobile photography studio across France and powering its equipment along the way. The initiative, which began in Paris, will see the iX3 50 xDrive haul a caravan fitted out as a photo laboratory to more than 30 photography festivals and fairs until September 2027.
The electric SUV is not merely following the studio between events. It is towing the caravan for the entire journey and supplying electricity to equipment inside through its vehicle-to-load (V2L) function, effectively turning the car into a large mobile power bank. BMW says multiple electrical devices can be powered simultaneously at up to 3.7 kW, a practical demonstration of bidirectional charging that goes beyond plugging in household appliances for a promotional video.
BMW selected the iX3 50 xDrive for the assignment because of its larger 108.7-kWh battery, rather than the iX3 40 with its 82.6-kWh pack. The choice reflects the reality that towing significantly reduces range, making the bigger battery a sensible option for a vehicle that will travel hundreds of miles between events while dragging a trailer. The official WLTP rating of roughly 500 miles will be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve under real-world towing conditions due to the additional weight and aerodynamic drag of the caravan.
Beyond V2L, the iX3 supports vehicle-to-home (V2H) and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functionality. With V2H, the car can act as temporary energy storage for a home, storing surplus electricity generated by rooftop solar panels and releasing it when needed. V2G takes the concept further by allowing electricity stored in the battery to be fed back into the public power grid, potentially enabling owners to earn money by making their stored energy available when the grid requires it.
The tour kicked off at the Ministry of Culture in Paris and includes stops at prominent photography events across France. The schedule features the GLAZ Festival in Rennes, the Rencontres Image et Environnement in Thoré-la-Rochette, the Quinzaine Photographique Nantaise in Nantes, the Planches Contact Festival in Deauville, and Paris Photo during a November week in the capital. The itinerary continues through 2027 with events such as the Printemps Photographique de Pomerol, Les Photographiques in Le Mans, the Biennale Photo de Mulhouse, Festival Photo La Gacilly, and OFF Arles – La Kabine, before concluding with Photoclimat in Paris in September 2027.
For BMW, the project is an unconventional way of showcasing what the new iX3 can do beyond carrying passengers. The electric crossover plays an active role in the studio's energy autonomy, forging a direct connection between its battery and the photographic process. The year-long journey serves as a real-world test of the vehicle's towing capability and bidirectional charging technology, demonstrating how electric vehicles can function as versatile energy assets rather than mere modes of transport.