What’s Happening
BMW Group and E.ON are entering into a strategic partnership to create a new, intelligent home charging ecosystem for electric vehicles (EVs) across Europe. This is the first cooperation of its kind, aiming to facilitate a seamless integration of EVs into the household energy system for a more sustainable and climate-neutral lifestyle.
Why It Matters
This alliance between BMW Group and E.ON is pivotal in realizing the potential of EVs in the transition towards exclusive use of green energy. Frank Weber, Board Member of BMW AG, said the aim is to make the car an integral part of the smart home, balancing the private energy ecosystem, reducing costs, and improving carbon footprints. Patrick Lammers, Board Member of E.ON SE, added that by combining their strengths, they would establish a unique ecosystem for home charging, supporting the energy transition.
Key Points
The focus of the cooperation is on home charging. The partners aim to tailor an ecosystem that enhances at-home charging, creating an interface that combines BMW Group electric vehicles, smart homes, and the energy market. BMW Group will manage the vehicles and charging hardware, while E.ON will ensure sustainable energy tariffs and access to the energy market.
The “Connected Home Charging” customer offering will be available in several European countries from the second half of 2023. It will offer solar-optimised charging and load-optimised charging, potentially saving costs, increasing household self-sufficiency, and optimising carbon footprints. Future expansions will include cost-optimised charging and enabling bidirectional charging.
The results of the joint “Bidirectional Charging Management – BDL” research project, completed in 2022, are being incorporated into the future customer offering. It focused on connecting vehicles, charging infrastructure, and power grids in a way that promotes renewable energy and increases supply security.
Bottom Line
This ambitious collaboration is a significant step towards smarter, more efficient energy use in the era of EVs. Combining the expertise of BMW Group in the automotive industry and E.ON in the energy sector, the partnership promises to revolutionize at-home charging, benefiting customers and contributing to the energy transition. It emphasizes the potential of bidirectional charging technology and underlines the central role it will play in future energy management. The initiative also signals an expansion of the successful cooperation between E.ON and the BMW Group, which has resulted in one of Germany’s largest company charging networks.
