article thumbnail

All-electric BMW iX and i4 first BMWs with 5G support

Green Car Congress

The all-electric BMW iX and i4 are the first BMWs with available 5G support via Personal eSIM. Personal eSIM allows a customer to add a BMW iX or i4 to an existing mobile phone plan, thus taking advantage of the vehicle’s 5G antenna and enabling an in-car WiFi hotspot. Digital Key Plus. eDrive Zones.

BMW 370
article thumbnail

BMW expands 530e sedan inductive charging pilot program to US

Green Car Congress

BMW is bringing BMW’s global Induction Charging Pilot Program to the US. All costs, expenses and expenditures associated with the initial installation, maintenance and de-installation of the Ground Pad Module are covered by BMW. The pilot program began in Germany in 2018. The system has a charging power of 3.2

BMW 247
article thumbnail

BMW launches ParkNow mobile parking service; more details on DriveNow electric car-sharing service

Green Car Congress

San Francisco serves as the initial US market for each service. San Francisco serves as the initial US market for each service. There are an estimated 505,000 vehicles in San Francisco, yet only 448,000 parking spaces available at any given time. Parking and charging is free at DriveNow Stations.

article thumbnail

BMW i Ventures makes strategic investment in parking services company ZIRX

Green Car Congress

BMW Group has made a strategic investment in on-demand parking and car services company ZIRX through BMW’s venture capital entity, BMW i Ventures. ZIRX intends to eliminate the frustration that drivers face in parking in major urban markets such as New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.

article thumbnail

BMW begins Phase 2 of ChargeForward Program with PG&E to study advanced electric vehicle charging; results from Phase 1

Green Car Congress

In an effort to further understand and expand the possibilities of smart charging for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), BMW of North America announced a second phase of its BMW ChargeForward program. BMW was the first to showcase this technology in a real-world application. Earlier post.)

BMW 150
article thumbnail

BMW, Volvo invest in Z?m; ride-sharing for children

Green Car Congress

BMW i Ventures and Volvo Cars Tech Fund each have invested in Z?m m currently has thousands of certified drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles and other urban areas in California that together serve 80% of the state’s population. The new funding will be used to expand Z?

Volvo 207
article thumbnail

BMW Launches ActiveE DriveNow Electric Car Sharing In San Francisco

Green Car Reports

We quite like the BMW ActiveE. It's a good-looking, comfortable, quick electric car, and its existence will help develop BMW's first true electric production car, the 2014 BMW i3. Now, thanks to BMW's car sharing service DriveNow, residents in San Franciso will also get to enjoy the ActiveE's charms.