BMW of North America says it has launched its BMW i DC Fast Charger, which can charge the BMW i3 all-electric vehicle's battery up to 80% in 30 minutes.
The charger, a joint development between BMW and Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, can be mounted on a wall – a first for electric vehicle (EV) DC fast chargers, according to BMW.
In addition, the BMW i DC Fast Charger will be priced at $6,548 for authorized BMW partners – significantly less than other DC combo chargers in the market, the automaker says.
Half the size of a traditional EV DC charger, it weighs approximately 100 pounds. Robert Healey, EV infrastructure manager at BMW of North America, says the product is a “milestone in the development of the DC fast charging infrastructure.”
The 24 kW DC Fast Charger feeds the current directly to the vehicle's battery, resulting in a more efficient and faster charge. It uses the SAE Combo 1 connector, features an aluminum IP54 enclosure, meets NEMA 3 requirements and is designed to perform in extreme weather conditions (-40 degrees F to 185 degrees F).
Additionally, it is ChargePoint network-enabled, allowing EV drivers with the SAE Combo 1 inlet to access the BMW i DC Fast Charger using a ChargePoint or ChargeNow card.
The BMW i DC Fast Chargers will be available for BMW i Centers across the U.S. beginning in August.
