A home charging station exclusively designed for BMW electric, plug-in hybrid vehicles is called the BMW Level 2 Charger. Compared to regular Level 1 charging, it offers up to 7.2 kW of power, enabling quicker EV battery charging.
BMW EV and PHEV users may easily install the BMW Level 2 Charger at home, giving them convenience and flexibility. Moreover, it has smart charging capabilities that let users plan when to charge their devices and check their progress via a smartphone app.
Manufactured to fit logically into your life, the BMW Level 2 charger is the comprehensive initiative for your electric vehicle whether you charge EV at home or your workplace.
From fast charging stations to public charging and selecting the right charging plug, you will find all the information in this article below.
BMW EV Charger
As the world moves toward cleaner energy sources, it’s more appealing than ever to own an electric car (EV) like a BMW. Picking the right BMW EV charger is important to keep your car going well.
BMW has different charging choices, such as fast chargers in public places and charging stations that you can use at home.
When choosing a charger, you should think about things like how fast it charges, how easy it is to install, and whether it works with your specific BMW model. Most home chargers are Level 2, which makes it easy to charge overnight.
Each hour of charging adds about 25 to 30 miles to the range. BMW’s network of public DC fast chargers can give your car a quick boost. They can do up to 80% of the charge in 30 minutes, which makes them great for long trips.
Why You Need a High-Quality BMW Charger
Efficiency: A good charger will make sure that your BMW charges quickly and correctly.
Convenience: With a home charger, you can charge your car while it’s stopped or while you sleep.
Longevity: The battery in your car can last longer if you buy a good charger.
Cost Savings: Some chargers have smart features that let you charge your phone during off-peak hours, which saves you money on electricity.
3 Different Levels of BMW Chargers are Available
- Charging at Level 1 (120 volts): A full charge takes 13-16 hours.
- Charging at Level 2 (240 volts): A full charge takes about 4-5 hours.
- Level 3 (480 volts) DC quick charging: For an 80 percent charge, it takes 20-30 minutes.
We must consider that various chargers deliver different charging speeds, and each EV comes with an optimal charge power it can accept, so it is quite essential to select the EV that can accept maximum power and charger delivering quick energy to make your charging life less awesome.
The below-mentioned charging levels are available, each with a different voltage and power output.
It’s time to discuss each of them in detail.
Level 1 Charger
EV charging with a Level 1, the 120-v charger comes with certain downsides, and the important thing is that it takes longer and only provides a four to five-mile range per hour. Overnight charging allows an EV to travel only from 36 to 40 miles.
It’s useful for people traveling less than 50 miles a day. Most EV owners are satisfied with this charging level at home because it fully meets their needs.
It is a 120V charger that can charge up to 4 miles per hour and is compatible with electric and plug-in hybrid BMWs.
A standard 120V household outlet is used in the Level 1 charger. BMW includes a free level 1 occasional use charger (OUC) with all their plug-in vehicles. Level 1 charging provides three to five miles of range per hour.
Every electric BMW has a portable, flexible, rapid charger compatible with any 120-volt and 240-volt household outlet. Using this fast charger, you can charge your EV battery for the night, which will be fully charged by the morning.
Level 2 Charger
A Level 2 charger is a type of electric vehicle (EV) charger that provides a faster charging rate compared to a standard Level 1 charger. Here are the key details:
The available Wallbox BMW Level 2 charger (240 Volt home installed) allows you to charge your all-electric BMW. It can deliver up to 30 miles in an hour once the car is plugged in.
It fills from 0 to 100% in as little as 12 hours with a speed of 9.6 kW. Some EV owners also install it at home. It’s ideal for outdoor installation due to its basic and weatherproof design. A cable and plug holder is included for easy cable management when not in use.
Always consider the following two factors that influence Level 2 charging speed when delivering power to a BMW i3:
- Charger maximum power output: Different chargers can draw varying amounts of electrical current through their 240V electric circuit. More current means more power, which faster charges the battery. Most level 2 chargers provide 3.3-10 kW of charging power to the i3.
- Maximum power intake of i3: A Level 2 charger can provide up to 7.7 kW of charging power to the 2017 BMW i3. With such power, an empty i3 can be fully charged in just 4.5 hours and has sufficient efficiency to charge the battery each night.
Level 3 Charger
The fastest and the most powerful mode of charging is the level 3, also known as DC fast charger. It uses AC (alternating current) instead of DC (direct current) against the other two chargers.
BMW i3 battery can be charged up to 80% in a short while of 20 minutes, and charging slows down once it is charged up to 80% to protect battery health against overcharging.
BMW provides another advantage to its users as they can get free, fast charging, thanks to BMW’s agreement with EVGO. It is assigned to provide free DC fast charging through its Charge Now Program.
The program is for those who purchase or lease a BMW i3. EVgo is the largest public fast-charging network with 800 plus charging locations nationwide.
DC fast charging is something that, in any case, can’t be installed at home because it requires high transmission supply lines and fewer residential areas are seen with such a huge supply. Further, its cost is exceedingly high; sometimes, it may cost more than your EV.
But usually, DC fast charger cost is around more than $50,000. Charging by a level 3 fast charger at a public charging station takes only 20 minutes to fill up to 80% of the battery. With such an incredible charging speed, even thinking about installing a fast charger at home looks foolish.
BMW Home EV Chargers
The Flexible Fast Charger is good as a portable charging device for your BMW, connecting to 120-volt and even 240-volt.
Buying an all-electric BMW i4, iX, and i7 across the U.S. can be lucrative because the company provides you with a free home charger to install at home. The charger fitting may cost from $500 to $700 if done by some qualified technicians.
Some organizations like (HOA) Home Owners Association may not allow you to install home chargers owing to their particular reservations. In that case, you should go for public charging stations widely spreading throughout the US.
Choosing a Compatible BMW EV Home Charger
The best home charger for the BMW i3, i4, i7, and i7 would be a Chargepoint having 240V (50 amp). The amperage for a Home BMW EV charger should be 16 amps; however, some home chargers are also available with 30 amps or more. All-electric BMW models are also compatible with all open public charging networks.
Conclusion
For those BMW EV and PHEV users who prefer to charge their cars at home, the BMW Level 2 Charger is a very efficient and convenient option. This charger has a huge power output of up to 7.2 kW, which makes charging much faster than with regular Level 1 chargers.
The smart charging features make it even easier for users, as they can plan charging and keep an eye on things from afar using a smartphone app.
For the best charging experience, you need to know about the different charging settings on a BMW charger. Level 1 chargers are good for short trips every day, but Level 2 chargers, which can add up to 30 miles to your range per hour, are better for everyday use.
Level 3 DC fast chargers are the best choice for people on long trips or who need to recharge quickly. They can charge up to 80% of a battery in just 20 to 30 minutes.
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