[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i Wallbox Pro introduced as Second BMW home charging station

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September 26, 2014

Munich. With the BMW i Wallbox Pro – the second home charging station in the BMW i 360º ELECTRIC portfolio for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles – zero-emission electric mobility is set to become an even more attractive option. The BMW i Wallbox Pro offers a faster charging rate than the BMW i Wallbox Pure and even more user-friendly operation, as well as innovative options for vehicle charging with home-generated electricity and smart home integration. The BMW i Wallbox Pro is available as an Original BMW i Accessory. Optionally an installation service is also provided, which offers fitting and connection of the BMW Wallbox Pro in the customer’s home or garage by qualified experts.

With a charging rate of up to 7.4 kW, the BMW i Wallbox Pro supports very fast charging of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. In this case the high-voltage battery of the BMW i3 takes less than three hours for an 80% charge. The BMW i Wallbox Pro is also compatible with other makes of vehicle equipped with the European Type 2 standard connector.

The BMW i Wallbox features the familiar BMW i design and aesthetics. The front of the high-quality plastic housing has an anthracite special-effect finish with black detailing and chrome along with highlights in BMW i blue. Reflecting the sustainable ethos of the BMW i brand, the BMW i Wallbox Pro is produced from environmentally friendly materials.

The BMW i Wallbox Pro is operated using a 7-inch colour touchscreen display, which offers optimised control and monitoring of the charging process and allows users to choose their own individual settings. The screen can show how much charge has been delivered to the vehicle so far, along with details of previous charging cycles. LED fibre-optic strips at the sides of the wallbox indicate the current charge status and are visible from a considerable distance. Information about the charging status can also be remotely accessed from a smartphone or tablet by using the BMW i Wallbox Remote app.

The BMW i Wallbox Pro provides an administrator function that can keep a charging history for different users. Up to three user profiles can be set up, e.g. for accounting or billing purposes. For example, private and business-related electricity use can be recorded separately. Details of electricity consumption for a particular user account can also be forwarded by email if desired.

A proximity sensor activates the BMW i Wallbox Pro when motion is detected. The charging plug can be picked up and connected to the vehicle socket using just one hand. Further user-friendly features include the 3.5-metre charging cable. The cable’s entry point towards the top of the wallbox protects it from contamination and makes it unnecessary to coil the cable.

The BMW i Wallbox Pro’s integrated load management system delivers the maximum available current when charging. At the same time, overloading is prevented by reducing the charging rate as necessary during peaks in household power consumption. A clear readout on the touchscreen shows how much power is being drawn from the household electrical system at any given time.

Assisted by its intelligent charging functions and the optional energy meter, the BMW i Wallbox Pro is unique among home charging stations in the extent to which home-generated electricity can be integrated in the charging process – for example electricity from a home solar system. This option is used whenever possible. The intelligently integrated wallbox detects the availability of solar power and immediately uses it for charging. If no home-generated energy is available, power from the grid is used instead.

If the BMW i Wallbox Pro is integrated with a smart home system, the efficient charging functionality can be extended even further to reduce peak loads on the household electrical system and optimise the use of home-generated electricity. Via the touchscreen it is possible, for example, to connect the wallbox to the smart home system myGEKKO. Up to eight smart home functions can then be controlled from the wallbox display, including activation of outdoor lighting. It is also possible to display a weather report on the touchscreen, showing current temperatures, daily maximum and minimum temperatures, frost warnings and forecasts for the coming days.

The BMW i Wallbox Pro is an Original BMW i Accessory and is available in all European markets. At the end of the year it will also go on sale in markets in Asia, Africa, the American continent and the Middle East. The BMW i Wallbox Pro can be installed both in closed garages and in covered outdoor areas.

[Carac]

I love the way these look and all the features...but a heads up that I bought a highly recommended and rated GE Level 2 Charger from Home Depot for $600. It was less than $900 total for the charger and installation. The screen is a little redundant if you have a smartphone since you can check on your car's charging status through the app. That said, if I had a "destination garage" (one you hang out it, admiring cars, working, etc) then I'd be game...especially if it matched the design of the space.

[StuM]

Carac, once you get your car, let us know how long the Level 2 unit takes to charge your car vs the supplied, 120VAC, included plug.
I expect to usually have at least overnight to charge my car, so not sure the higher charge rate unit is worth the investment for my application. Suppose I can see how the 120V cord works first and then decide. I already have 240V service in my garage/shop.
Congrats and good luck as you wait out the last few days before delivery.

[ORIGIN M.]

Electric cars should come with both level 1 & level 2 chargers.

[Imola.ZHP]

Originally Posted by StuM

Carac, once you get your car, let us know how long the Level 2 unit takes to charge your car vs the supplied, 120VAC, included plug.
I expect to usually have at least overnight to charge my car, so not sure the higher charge rate unit is worth the investment for my application. Suppose I can see how the 120V cord works first and then decide. I already have 240V service in my garage/shop.
Congrats and good luck as you wait out the last few days before delivery.

I just had an i3 REX for a few days, after depleting the battery the first day and dipping into the REX just barely I charged it "overnight" on the 120v charger. After 13 hours of charging I only got 26 miles of range on the battery. BMW's website says 20 hours to fully charge on 120V but unless it magically speeds up, my real-world experience (and math) would suggest it takes 39 hours to charge up to 78 miles (approximately fully charged depending on driving mode).

Needless to say a 240V charger is a must. I would seek out other options (Google) than pay a premium for this BMW station. IMO this station, or some sort of level 2 charger should be included in the price of the car.

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Electric cars should come with both level 1 & level 2 chargers.

Agreed.

[GOLFFRR]

def can't argue about the design, those are prob some of the coolest looking chargers I have ever seen