Starting from 2023, BMW electric cars will feature a “plug and charge” function which enables drivers to charge at public charging points without having to use a charging card or app.
BMW Group unveiled the capability on Monday, Europe time. It integrates multiple charging contracts and allows the car to independently and automatically authenticate itself at charging stations using digitally stored registration data.
This makes BMW the first car manufacturer to integrate a multi-contract functionality in such an offering, of which we are aware.
BMW owners will need to register their available charging services beforehand – with the ability to store multiple charging contracts from at least five different providers – but from then on, all that is needed is to connect the charging point to the vehicle and the car will navigate the rest, exchanging data with the charging station to organise charging and billing.
Other than the increased ease of charging – just one more benefit of an EV over traditional ICE vehicles – the plug and charge process also removes the need for an online connection at the charging location which could prove particularly useful in underground garages.
To further enhance the value of its new plug and charge function, BMW Group also revealed that it was expanding its already extensive portfolio of charging services.
Further, to ensure the continued interoperability of plug and charge, BMW are integrating the current and future standards of ISO-15118-2 and ISO 15118-20.
Based on BMW’s announcement it looks as if this feature will be limited in the immediate future to Europe and necessitates corresponding charging services be connected to Hubject’s Europe-wide eRoaming network.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.