BMW to build 500 EV chargers in China

BMW plans to install 500 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen by the end of 2015.

The German automobile company also plans to augment the number of stations up to more than 1,000 units by the end of the following year to cover other cities in China and allay the “range anxiety” fears of EV buyers, reports Chinese website Gascoo.com.

EV owners worry that they run out of electricity before reaching a charging station. They also find it difficult to locate EV chargers as these are not as conspicuous as gas stations.

Currently, BMW has 33,000 EV charging stations around the world.

On 7 September, the company announced the implementation of a system called “Charge Now” in China. This enables BMW and mini EV model owners to find the nearest charging station through BMW interconnected vehicle driving system, internet, or a mobile phone application.

“Charge Now” is already in use in Germany, United Kingdom, and 24 cities in the United States, according to Bjorn Goerke, BMW president and CEO for Greater China Region.

The car manufacturer introduced alternative fuel vehicles in China like the BMW i3 EV and plug-in hybrid models such as i8, X540e, and 530Le.