Photo: bmw
Up until now, if you wanted to charge your car at home, you could do it at a regular socket or a BMW i Wallbox Pure, BMW’s special device for i cars. Now, the Germans have come up with the BMW i Wallbox Pro, a new charging station that offers even more power in less time.
This is the second charging station part of the BMW i 360 Electric portfolio that offers accessories for the i range. Of course, with it, you get a faster charging rate compared to the Pure alternative, at up to 7.4 kW. That means you can charge your i3 up to 80 percent in less than 3 hours. Not only that but, the new Pro model is also compatible with other EVs that are fitted with the European Type 2 connector.
Being part of the i family, the device is also done in the traditional colors of the brand, featuring the same design and aesthetics. The front housing has an anthracite finish while black detailing and chrome along with i Blue highlights remind you of the i3.
Of course, this too adheres to the eco-friendly approach that defines the cars and is made of environmentally friendly materials. The device is operated via a 7-inch display that allows you to monitor and control the charging process. The screen can show you the charging level but also details of previous charging styles. Furthermore, you can access all of the info via your smartphone or tablet.
The BMW i Wallbox Pro provides an administrator function that can keep a charging history for different users. Up to three user profiles can be set up, for accounting or billing purposes. For example, private and business-related electricity use can be recorded separately. Details of electricity consumption for a particular user account can also be forwarded by email if desired.
Integration with smart home systems is also possible, to make sure the electricity flow is optimized. On top of that, if your house is fitted with its own electricity-generating devices, they can feed current to the Wallbox, therefore reducing the electricity bill.
For example, if a home is fitted with a solar system, the electricity from it can be used whenever possible. At the same time, if there’s none available, the box will use the grid to power your car. At the moment, the BMW i Wallbox Pro is only available in Europe but it will reach markets in Asia, Africa, the Americas the Middle East by the end of the year.
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