Auto | BMW i3 drivers through ChargeNow

At major auto shows across the U.S., consumers are witnessing a revolutionary partnership between an automotive company and an EV charging network.  ChargePoint’s charging network, which is the world’s largest and most open, has been fully integrated into BMW’s visionary electric vehicle, the BMW i3, which is the automaker’s first all-electric production vehicle. This collaboration will bolster the EV industry’s growth andrepresents a shift in the EV charging industry to provide a seamless experience for drivers. The ChargePoint network is fully integrated into the ConnectedDrive navigation system of the BMW i3. Using real time data, through the BMW i Remote mobile app, BMW i3 drivers will have the ability to navigate to unoccupied charging stations and have access to the world’s largest and most open EV network of charging stations.

“Together with BMW, we are revolutionizing the EV driving experience. This partnership represents a first for the industry,”said Pasquale Romano, CEO of ChargePoint. “By incorporating features important to consumers, such as the availability of charging stations, BMW has made the electric vehicle better and smarter.”

By providing real-time data, the BMW i3’s ConnectedDrive navigation unit and the BMW i Remote App will not only make it easy for drivers to find and access publicly available charging stations on the ChargePoint network, but will also display which stations are within the vehicle’s range. To do so, the navigation system takes into account the percentage of battery life remaining, driving mode, and topography and highlights ChargePoint stations within range as points of interest on the map.

ChargePoint has also been selected to be the preferred provider of BMW i’s ChargeNow public charging program in the U.S. ChargeNow makes it easy for BMW i drivers to find and access all publicly available charging stations on the ChargePoint network by providing real time availability status and location information through the ConnectedDrive navigation system. All BMW i3 owners will be provided ChargeNow cards – giving them immediate access to the more than 14,000 stations on ChargePoint’s growing network.

“As the largest network of public charging stations in the U.S. and Canada, ChargePoint was the obvious partner for BMW i’s ChargeNow program to provide BMW i owners the best driver experience possible,” said Rob Healey, Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Manager at BMW of North America.

In October, 10,060 plug-in vehicles were sold in the United States, representing a 24 percent increase over the previous month and a 43 percent increase over October of 2012.  There have now been 150,186 plug-in vehicles sold nationwide.

“The growth of the electric vehicle industry is very encouraging and we expect this trend to continue,” added Romano. “By making the driving and charging experience more convenient for drivers, this collaboration will transform the industry and we anticipate that this time next year, there will likely be twice as many EVs on the road.”

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There are over 14,000 ChargePoint locations, and over 50,000 EV drivers are ChargePoint members. ChargePoint drivers have helped combat global warming by saving over 2.6 million gallons of gas and over 20 million lbs. of CO₂ emissions.