Next Phase of BMW ChargeForward Program Initiated

BMW is all out in their efforts to improve and expand the possibilities of smart charging for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In relation to this BMW of North America announced that they are launching the second phase of their BMW ChargeForward program.

The first phase of the program was able to demonstrate the possibility of creating grid value by optimizing smart charging of EVs. BMW developed innovative solutions that utilize the existing vehicle communication system both to create value for customers and to help optimize the electric grid through demand response, which improves grid reliability, lowers costs and helps the environment by incentivizing customers to reduce usage during periods of high peak demand. BMW was the first automaker to showcase this technology in a real-world application.

In the first phase run from July 2015 through December 2016, BMW enabled nearly 100 BMW i3 owners located in the San Francisco Bay Area to earn an incentive by offering flexibility in the time by which their vehicle was charged.

BMW i3, BMW i8 and iPerformance owners in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area who are Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers are invited to apply for participation in a 24-month program focused on managed EV and PHEV charging. Funding for this second phase was secured through a competitive bid for a California Energy Commission (CEC) grant.