Official Release: BMW of North America, LLC today announced jointly with Coulomb Technologies, Inc. that drivers of the forthcoming BMW ActiveE all-electric vehicle will be able to take advantage of the expansion of the ChargePoint® Network into the Boston Metro. More than 100 ChargePoint stations for EVs will be made available to the State through Coulomb’s $37 million ChargePoint America DOE program. The stations will be located in the Boston metropolitan area, within the Route 495 Beltway. Drivers of the BMW ActiveE will be able to conveniently and safely recharge their electric vehicle at any ChargePoint-enabled electric vehicle charging station in the US.

“We are pleased to be a part of the ChargePoint America program. Access to such a well established network will provide a significant measure of convenience for drivers of the ActiveE,” said Rich Steinberg, Manager – Electric Vehicle Operations and Strategy for BMW of North America. “Our drivers can feel confident that they can easily locate and recharge at any of the publically accessible ChargePoint stations in the United States. Partnerships like this one with Coulomb will reinforce the viability of EVs for daily transportation as we’ve already proven with the MINI E.”

“The ChargePoint Network is the world’s largest and longest operating electric vehicle-charging network in the world,” said Richard Lowenthal, founder and CTO of Coulomb Technologies. “We are now pleased to say that BMW ActiveE owners will benefit from all of the safety, convenience and standards features that the ChargePoint Network offers, which in turn ensures the best possible ‘fueling’ experience.”

BMW project i – research and development of tomorrow’s mobility.

The BMW ActiveE is the BMW Group’s next step towards an emission-free, mass-produced electric vehicle. Within the framework of project i, the BMW Group has been carrying out research and development work on the development of electrically powered vehicles. The ultimate goal is the concept of a Megacity Vehicle, the BMW i3 that meets the demands of a sustainable mobility solution for congested urban areas. For this reason, the drive components and battery technology that will be used in the i3 are being tested in the BMW ActiveE.

Ongoing field tests involving more than 600 MINI E cars, including 450 in the US, have already provided vital knowledge about the demands on future electrically powered production vehicles. Beginning in 2011 in the US, Europe and China, a test fleet of over 1000 BMW ActiveE vehicles will provide further valuable insights into the everyday use of the vehicle. The findings will serve to deepen the knowledge already gained on the everyday use of electric vehicles and to learn more about customer requirements. The feedback from customers testing the MINI E and the BMW ActiveE will be fed directly into series production of the i3, which is scheduled to launching under the i Brand in 2013.

E-mobility as a supporting pillar of BMW’s EfficientDynamics strategy.

In the development of groundbreaking vehicle concepts and drive technologies within the framework of the EfficientDynamics strategy, the BMW Group attaches key importance to electric mobility. With EfficientDynamics the BMW Group has for been very successful in reducing fuel consumption and emission levels through new and highly-efficient engine generations, enhancement of aerodynamics, the use of innovative lightweight construction and intelligent engine management – all with better performance in the bargain. Thanks to EfficientDynamics, the company is now able to achieve additional economy advantages through the further electrification of the drive train and hybrid technology. In the medium term, the BMW Group is developing vehicle concepts for emission-free mobility in larger urban areas. In the long term, EfficientDynamics means the transition to emission-free mobility – using both battery power and sustainably produced hydrogen.

On the way to sustainable, CO2-free mobility, the BMW ActiveE represents the next major milestone. Following the MINI E, the BMW ActiveE is the BMW Group’s second electric vehicle made available to consumers. With output of 170 horsepower and maximum torque of 184 lb-ft, the car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in under nine seconds (preliminary), demonstrating the dynamic characteristics typical of a BMW. At the same time, newly developed lithium-ion batteries facilitate a vehicle range of around 100 miles in everyday driving.

Just like the MINI E, the BMW ActiveE is a conversion car, an electric vehicle based on the body and chassis of an existing car. The BMW ActiveE integrates all-electric drive components such as batteries, electric motor and power electronics in a vehicle body that was not originally intended for this purpose – and without significant compromise on space or interior comfort. Therefore, the BMW ActiveE is the BMW Group’s first electric vehicle to offer four fully-fledged seats and a seven cu-ft luggage compartment. The BMW ActiveE incorporates a pilot series version of the same drive train and batteries planned for the i3.

BMW EVolve Mobile App and Online Dashboard Gauges Compatibility for Electric Vehicle Prospects

The BMW EVolve will help drivers determine if their current transportation habits are compatible with the EV lifestyle regardless of their cars’ make or even their mode of transportation. The app provides tips from this group of seasoned drivers, based on their experiences thus far. Drivers also have access to real-world comparisons that put their energy and transportation usage into context such as equating a vehicle’s CO2 emissions to that of a home television. Ultimately, following three complete “trips” with the app, the user will be given a compatibility rating letting them know how an EV might fit into their daily life. The BMW EVolve App is available as a free download from both the Apple App Store and the Android Marketplace.

BMW Activate the Future

Before the ActiveE arrives, BMW has started a broader conversation about the future of mobility that thinks “beyond the car.” To start the conversation, throughout the month of February, BMW will launch a four-part online documentary series entitled “WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO: Four Films about the Future of Mobility”, which is intended to create a broader conversation about the future of mobility and to challenge existing consumer mindsets. Go to www.BMWActivatetheFuture.com to join the conversation.