As part of BMW 360° ELECTRIC program, customers of the i8, 330e and X5 xDrive40e are offered the new BMW ChargeNow service, a mobility service that makes everyday on-the-go charging a seamless part of owning a i or BMW Hybrid vehicle with eDrive technology.
Using the ChargeNow card that also grants access to partner charging stations like ChargEV, customers can enjoy 24/7 support and access to over 95 publicly accessible charging locations on ChargEV’s growing network.
Sashi and GreenTech Malaysia CEO Ahmad Hadri Haris showing the partnership agreement today. With them are (from left) GreenTech Malaysia vice-president (Green Catalyst) Mohamed Azrin Mohamed Ali, BMW Group Malaysia aftersales head Stefan Sloboda and BMW Group Malaysia marketing head Natasha Karim.
“It is important that we ensure the necessary infrastructure is available to support the new technology as this is what will also increase consumer confidence in the viability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles," said BMW Group Malaysia corporate communications head Sashi Ambi at the signing ceremony with GreenTech Malaysia at the 7th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM).
"As of today, the demand for both the X5 xDrive40e and 330e continues to grow. We have already begun delivering both vehicles to our customers; the BMW X5 xDrive40e currently has a wait list until Q2 2017 while the order bank for the BMW 330e is healthily growing. We are confident that the progress of these vehicles will continue to be positive."
There are serveral ways to find participating public charging stations with ChargeNow. The first is by downloading the My BMW Remote app for BMW eDrive customers or the BMW i Remote app for BMW i customers to locate available public charging stations, check their availability, and send their locations directly to the vehicle. Owners can also use the onboard navigation system via BMW ConnectedDrive services to find public stations from their BMW eDrive or BMW i vehicle. Alternatively, customers can locate the stations by using the ChargEV online map, which displays the location of all ChargEV stations.
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Once a public charging station is located, simply tap the ChargeNow card over the reader symbol, press the handle button to remove the charging connector, and plug in. Upon full charge, simple tap the ChargeNow card to end the session before unplugging and returning the connector to its station.
GreenTech Malaysia targets to install 300 ChargEV stations by this year and will keep to its target of achieving 25,000 ChargEV stations by 2020 to support Malaysia’s target of deploying 100,000 EVs in the next five years.
BMW is offering the public a chance to experience and discover more about the BMW 360° ELECTRIC programme on Oct 8, the last day of IGEM, at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here.
Ahmad Hadri posing with Kim of IEVE after signing their agreement
In a related development, GreenTech Malaysia has signed a separate deal with the organising committee of the International Electric Vehicle Expo (IEVE) to promote electric mobility on an international scale through strategic discussions and cross-promotional activities to increase understanding and interest for the growing electric mobility scene in Asia.
GreenTech Malaysia is expected to take part in the upcoming 4th IEVE to be held in Jeju, South Korea, next March; while Malaysia would be introduced into the IEVE EV leader roundtable, which represents top nations in the sustainable transport landscape.
IEVE, chaired by Daehwan Kim, is the world’s only expo dedicated to electric vehicles. It has attracted nearly 200,000 visitors over the past three years.
