BMW i continues to forge ahead with its strategy for customer-friendly electric mobility, which has now led to it striking a far-reaching partnership with Schneider Electric and the electric mobility service provider The Mobility House (TMH).
The partnership agreement includes checking the electrical installation in customers’ homes, supplying and assembling the wallbox charging point, as well as maintenance and other services. This will allow future owners of a BMW i3 or BMW i8 to hook up their vehicle safely and quickly recharge it while at home or in the office.
The partnership arrangements help fulfil the overriding objective of providing customer-friendly and efficient charging facilities by the time the BMW i3 is launched that will allow for recharging in the comfort of the customer’s own garage. The BMW i3 will be the first electric vehicle on the market to be purpose-designed as such from the outset, and is slated for launch in late 2013.
As Alexander Efthimiou, Head of Product Management for Electric Powertrain Modular Systems and After-Sales, is keen to explain: “With BMW i, we are adopting an all-embracing approach to electric mobility, meaning that we will be offering more than just the purchase of the BMW i3. Over the course of the numerous pilot tests we staged worldwide with electric vehicles, we listened to our customers very carefully, and will be able to offer them a ‘360° Electric’ concept as soon as the i3 is launched, comprising solutions that cater to all the requirements of future electric motorists. We see the professional installation of the wallbox for charging the BMW i3 and i8 as one of the key factors for the successful marketing of electric vehicles. We are delighted to have Schneider Electric and The Mobility House, the two most internationally experienced partners in the field of electric mobility, on board to help implement our strategy.”
“This alliance will see Schneider Electric offering BMW customers an efficient, customer-friendly and lasting infrastructure for charging,” says Philippe Delorme, Executive Vice President, Partner Business at Schneider Electric. “BMW and Schneider Electric share the same vision for electric mobility, and we are certain that our collaboration together points the way ahead for the future.”
Thomas Raffeiner, CEO and founder of The Mobility House, is similarly convinced: “BMW i is turning electric mobility into a serious alternative for customers around the world. The systematic pursuit of an all-embracing approach when it comes to electric mobility will provide some much-needed stimulus in Germany and beyond, and will further increase the technology’s acceptance. With BMW as our partner, we are implementing this objective in the various markets and offering the customer a one-stop shop for tailor-made electric mobility solutions.”
