German automaker BMW, in collaboration with energy company E.ON, has unveiled their much-anticipated solution for smart charging and connecting BMW and Mini vehicles to home PV systems. The “Connected Home Charging” package, initially announced in May 2023, is now available for order directly from BMW, marking a significant step towards intelligent and sustainable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions.
The product, which was slated for launch in several European countries in the second half of 2023 but was rolled out in the first half of 2024, is set to pilot in Germany, Italy, Austria, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Customers in these countries can now order the service for all battery-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids from BMW and Mini via the online vehicle configurator.
The core components of the offer include the BMW / MINI Wallbox Plus as an intelligent charging station, a Smart Energy Module with a backend connection for Connected Home Charging Services, and complete installation and setup by E.ON. Customers can easily configure their vehicle’s integration for grid- or solar-optimized charging through the familiar My BMW App or MINI App, offering options like solar-optimized surplus charging to utilize energy generated by their PV system.
Further functionalities are planned for the future, including cost-optimized charging based on daily price developments on the electricity market, allowing customers to charge at low prices during certain times. Additionally, bidirectional charging will be possible with the Neue Klasse from 2025.
The “Connected Home Charging” package starts at €1,769 in Germany, with pricing potentially increasing depending on the installation requirements on-site. The use of smart functions is initially included at no extra cost, but after the third year of use, customers will have the option to extend these functions through the BMW / MINI ConnectedDrive Store, though specific pricing details have not yet been disclosed.
Dominik Becks, Head of New Business Areas for Energy Services at the BMW Group, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, “Together with E.ON, we are making the car a crucial element of the smart home, with BMW and MINI electric cars at its center. This brings balance to the private energy ecosystem and thus reduced energy costs for our customers as well as an improved carbon footprint through the optimized use of green energy.”
Mathias Wiecher, CCO of E.ON Drive, emphasized the importance of sustainable charging solutions, stating, “Because green driving doesn’t work without green charging, I am delighted that we are working with BMW to offer not only energy management but also solar charging for drivers of electric BMWs and MINIs as a first step.”
