Charging without an app and card: BMW Group introduces Plug & Charge function and is the first manufacturer to integrate multiple charging contracts.

‍Berlin, 12th September. 2022. With groundbreaking innovations in the field of digital vehicle functions, the BMW Group is once again helping to make electric mobility more convenient and attractive. A Plug & Charge function will be available in the first BMW models from mid-2023, allowing customers to charge at public charging stations without a charging card or app. The authentication required to start the charging process and for billing takes place automatically through data exchange between the vehicle and the charging station.

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With the new functionality, BMW Charging is expanding its extensive product portfolio with another service for convenient charging. In particular, the new functionality also allows Plug & Charge access to the IONITY charging network initiated by BMW.

The flexibility of the offer is unique: The BMW Group is the first automobile manufacturer to integrate a multi-contract functionality into the Plug & Charge offer. This allows customers to store their individual traction current contracts from at least five different providers digitally in the vehicle and use the charging stations of these operators in a particularly convenient way. For this purpose, the current and future standards of the ISO-15118-2 and ISO 15118-20 standards are integrated.

Charging easier than refueling: the vehicle authenticates itself.

Plug & Charge is a function that makes charging the high-voltage battery even easier than refueling a conventionally powered vehicle. All the customer has to do is connect the charging point to the charging connection in their vehicle – not only electricity but also data are flowing via the charging cable. There is no need to activate the energy feed using an app or charging card. Instead, the vehicle authenticates itself by transmitting the customer's contract data. As a result, at the end of the charging process, the electricity fed into the grid is billed fully automatically.

An additional advantage of this system: Unlike activating the charging process via app, automatic authentication by the vehicle does not require an online connection at the location of the charging station. This is particularly advantageous in underground car parks.

Unique flexibility: BMW Charging Account, private and company contracts are stored digitally.

Previous Plug & Charge solutions were always tied to a single, clearly defined electricity provider. The solution that will be available for BMW models in the future, on the other hand, offers unique flexibility. The customer can store the individual access data for several traction current contracts digitally in his vehicle. This gives him the opportunity to access both his BMW charging account and other individual contracts while on the go. The only requirement for this is that the relevant providers must be connected to Hubject's Europe-wide eRoaming network.

This flexibility, realized for the first time in the field of electromobility, makes it easier for users of service and company vehicles with electrified drives to charge the high-voltage battery. Not only can they use the nationwide charging network of BMW Charging, but they can also conveniently obtain electricity from providers with whom their employer has concluded a separate charging contract, for example for charging stations on the company premises. In both cases, after connecting the charging cable, the customer only has to select and confirm the corresponding con-tract in the corresponding menu of the vehicle operating system in order to start the charging process.

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About Hubject

Hubject simplifies the charging of electric vehicles. Through its eRoaming platform, intercharge, the eMobility specialist connects Charge Point Operators or CPOs and eMobility Service Providers or EMPs, enabling unified, grid-independent access to charging infrastructure. With over 400,000 connected charging points and more than 1,000 B2B partners in 52 countries and four continents, Hubject has created the world's largest cross provider charging network for electric vehicles by connecting CPO networks. In addition, Hubject is a trusted consulting partner in the eMobility market, advising car manufacturers, charging providers and other EV-related businesses looking to launch eMobility services or implement Plug&Charge according to ISO 15118. Visit hubject.com for more information!

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Media Contact:
Megan Pini
Head of Marketing
Hubject GmbH
+49 30 587 088 91 13
presse@hubject.com

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About the BMW Group

Die BMW Group ist mit ihren Marken BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce und BMW Motorrad der weltweit führende Premium-Hersteller von Automobilen und Motorrädern und Anbieter von Premium-Finanz- und Mobili-tätsdienstleistungen. Das BMW Group Produktionsnetzwerk umfasst über 30 Produktionsstandorte weltweit; das Unternehmen verfügt über ein globales Vertriebsnetzwerk mit Vertretungen in über 140 Ländern.

Im Jahr 2021 erzielte die BMW Group einen weltweiten Absatz von mehr als 2,5 Mio. Automobilen und über 194.000 Motorrädern. Das Ergebnis vor Steuern im Geschäftsjahr 2021 belief sich auf 16,1 Mrd. €, der Umsatz auf 111,2 Mrd. €. Zum 31. Dezember 2021 beschäftigte das Unternehmen weltweit 118.909 Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter.

Seit jeher sind langfristiges Denken und verantwortungsvolles Handeln die Grundlage des wirtschaftli-chen Erfolges der BMW Group. Das Unternehmen hat frühzeitig die Weichen für die Zukunft gestellt und rückt Nachhaltigkeit und Ressourcenschonung konsequent ins Zentrum seiner Ausrichtung, von der Lieferkette über die Produktion bis zum Ende der Nutzungsphase aller Produkte.

www.bmwgroup.com