Electrify America and BMW deepen their bond over the new i5
BMW of North America today announced an agreement with Electrify America to provide first-time owners of the incoming BMW i5 with two years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions. This agreement expands on the included charging offered for other electric BMW cars.
Electrify America and BMW have similar agreements for first-time owners of the BMW i4, iX, and i7. The latest addition to the electric line-up, the BMW i5, is expected to launch worldwide this October. The German carmaker had released details before the debut, which we picked up for you here.
Once out, BMW i5 owners will have two years from the date of purchase to use the complimentary 30-minute charging and can enrol through the My BMW app. In addition, drivers can use the app or in-vehicle navigation to locate nearby charging stations within the Electrify America network, verify charger availability, and navigate to the charging stations. The new i5 is capable of making full use of 150kW and 350kW charging powers available on the US network.
The i5 will also be the first BMW electric vehicle to feature Plug&Charge payment technology. After online registration, drivers can automatically pay for charging by plugging in their EVs. The charger communicates with the car to identify, authenticate, authorize and bill the customer’s registered account for the charging session.
“As we continue expanding our electric offerings, access to charging infrastructure is as important as having a comfortable yet dynamic ride,” said Sebastian Mackensen, President and CEO of BMW of North America. “We are grateful to Electrify America for working with us and sharing in our mission to help make the future of transportation more sustainable.”
Electrify America, a Volkswagen subsidiary which the carmaker was ordered to establish for two billion dollars following the lawsuits surrounding the diesel emission fraud, has come to be known for building the largest open, DC-fast charging network in the United States. Since opening its first charging station in May 2018, the company has added over 3,500 charging points at 800 sites. The goal is to have 10,000 charging stations at 1,800 locations across North America by 2026.
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