BMW Partners With GreenTech Malaysia For Charging Services
BMW Group Malaysia and Malaysian Green Technology Corporation (GreenTech) officially marked their partnership at the 7th International Greentech & Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia (IGEM), to offer the ChargeNow mobility service via GreenTech’s ChargEV platform.
This initiative is part of the BMW 360° ELECTRIC program and allows owners of BMW plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles like the i8, 330e and X5 xDrive40e on-the-go charging. With the BMW ChargeNow card, owners of these vehicles get access to the ChargEV partner charging stations 24/7. GreenTech currently has about 95 ChargEV charging stations in major urban centers and targets to install another 300 ChargEV stations by this year-end to meet its ultimate target of 25,000 charging stations by 2020. This is to support the expected growth of EV and hybrid vehicle ownership to about 100,000 vehicles in the next 5 years.
“In the past year, we at BMW have introduced three all-new Hybrid vehicles with eDrive Technology in the country – the BMW i8, the BMW X5 xDrive40e and the BMW 330e. This move demonstrates a new understanding of premium vehicles that are strongly defined by sustainability. A key strategy for the nation to move towards sustainable mobility within the urban environment is by offering mobility services which make electric driving a comfortable experience and a daily pleasure,” said Mr. Sashi Ambi, Head of Corporate Communications, BMW Group Malaysia.
“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. As of today, the demand for both the BMW X5 xDrive40e and BMW 330e continues to grow. We have already begun delivering both vehicles to our customers,” added Mr. Sashi.
The ChargEV public charging stations can be located via the My BMW Remote app (for BMW eDrive owners) or the BMW i Remote app (for BMW i owners); the apps also allow owners to check the charging stations’ availability and send their location directly to the vehicle. The onboard navigation system via the BMW ConnectedDrive services also shows charging station locations as does the ChargEV online map.
The ChargEV charging stations can be used by simply tapping the ChargeNow card at the card reader before plugging in and then tapping the card again when charging is done.
The BMW 360° ELECTRIC program and GreenTech’s ChargEV service is on display at IGEM in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Hall 4. Discover more at the show on 8 October (Saturday).
