Buyers of new BMW electric vehicles (EVs) will get two years of 30-minute complimentary charging at Electrify America charging stations, the two companies announced today.
That means the first 30 minutes of every charging session will be free for two years. There are no caps on how frequently owners can charge or the total amount they can charge during the free period.
The deal launches in March. It will apply to the new all-electric BMW iX xDrive50, BMW i4 eDrive40, and BMW i4 M50 at first, “and extend to other models in the future,” a spokesperson tells us.
There is no official record-keeping agency that tracks the size of EV charging networks. But most sources accept that Electrify America operates the second-largest charging network in the U.S., behind only Tesla. Unlike Tesla, Electrify America’s chargers are open to EVs of any brand. Tesla has announced plans to open its supercharger network for use by owners of non-Tesla EVs. But the company hasn’t specified when or how that will happen.
Electrify America plans to double the size of its charging network by 2025, hoping to keep pace as EV sales grow even though overall new car sales are falling.
BMW EV owners can find Electrify America chargers through the myBMW app or Electrify America’s own app.
Electrify America is a Volkswagen Group of America subsidiary but has struck similar deals with many non-VW brands. Owners of some Hyundai, Kia, and Mercedes-branded EVs also qualify for some free charging on the network.
