BMW is offering drivers of the i3 electric car faster and smaller auto-battery chargers in an attempt to make driving an electric vehicle easier and more practical.
Drivers of the BMW i3 will now be offered unlimited access to stations in the NRG eVgo network through the BMW ChargeNow DC Fast program. This program allows drivers to restore power in their cars to 80 percent in only 30 minutes.
Drivers can take advantage of the program if they have a vehicle that is equipped with BMW's Fast Charging option. This allows for both DC charging and level 2 AC charging, and connectors for both are included on the single receptacle. Owners of the i3 can also buy the charger for their homes for $6,548. The size of the charger is about half that of a standard refrigerator. These home-charging stations will charge the vehicle to 80 percent in about six hours.
BMW is not the first company to offer programs for drivers who want to drive an electric vehicle. Both Tesla Motors and Nissan have attempted to overcome drivers' fears of being stranded with no power by offering free charging spots in various locations.
Cliff Fietzek, manager of connected eMobility for BMW in North America, said in an interview that the idea behind the project is to introduce a more affordable DC charging station.
"If you want to do a DC charging installation today, it's quite expensive," he said. "Total installation at a site can run between $50,000 and $100,000. We at BMW wanted to help out, along with the i3 launch, by bringing to market a low-cost charger that we could roll out to our dealerships and then offer to the wider market in order to expedite installations."
BMW has also said its fast chargers will be compatible with setups by other carmakers including General Motors, Ford and Volkswagen.
According to Robert Healey, the EV infrastructure manager for BMW of North America, the plan was for BMW to make chargers more affordable and easy to set up so that electric vehicles are more practical in the U.S.
"In the past few years we've learned that customers perceive blocks to electric vehicle ownership. So we're taking a two-pronged approach to removing those barriers with home charging and now what we see as the future of public charging: DC fast charging," Healey said.
According to Ian Robertson, demand for the i3 compact has far exceeded expectations, and production of the vehicle is stretching until the end of the year.
BMW introduced a new model to the "i" line in June, with the i8 hybrid sports car.
