Home charging

Bidirectional charging is a technology that allows electric vehicles to both receive power from the grid and supply power back to your home, to electronics on the go, and with some utilities, also back to the grid. For example, certain BMW models' EV batteries can discharge stored energy back into a home for emergency back up power or electrical devices, such as a phone or laptop, and power other electric vehicles when you are on the go. This new capability can contribute toward energy efficiency, cost savings, grid stability during peak demand periods, and energy sharing on the go. Bidirectional charging is currently featured in the new iX3. Future BMW EV models may also feature bidirectional charging.

BMW has integrated bidirectional charging on the new iX3. Bidirectional charging availability will continue to grow as newer BMWs are released.

Similar to your cell phone, charging up your electric BMW before a day’s use is simple. The amount of miles you drive daily will determine how often you need to charge.

Staying between 10% to 80% battery capacity should leave you with enough driving miles, and you can use the BMW Operating system or your My BMW App to set a target state of charge. You can charge the battery up to 100% when you have to rely on the entire driving range of your vehicle, such as when you're taking a longer trip. However, for better battery health it is not recommended to charge up to 100% every day or leave the vehicle parked for a longer time with a fully charged battery. When not driving your electric BMW for a longer period of time, leave the battery between 30% to 50% charged.

Use AC chargers as often as you can. While it takes longer, it is less stressful on the high-voltage battery and a more cost-efficient way to get your range topped up. Use DC and high-power DC chargers as often as you need, in order to extend the mileage of your electric BMW in a short period of time.

Keep in mind that how often and how long you should charge your electric BMW depends in part on what kind of home charging option you have and your daily driving needs. If you have convenient access to workplace charging, that may also impact how often you choose to charge your electric BMW overnight.

To optimize the service life of the high-voltage battery in your BMW electric car, BMW recommends maintaining a state of charge between 10 and 80% in everyday use. You can set a charging target (e.g. 80%) using the vehicle's operating system or in the My BMW App. If you have a longer journey planned, you can charge to over 80%. In this case, we recommend that you charge the vehicle just before you set off. Performing shorter charging processes more frequently is better for the service life of the high-voltage battery than fully charging and discharging the battery.

Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) is a technology that allows an EV to supply power back to your home. V2H is particularly useful to residential property owners as both a backup power source and an energy management tool. For example, during outages, V2H can help power household appliances and lighting.

BMW ChargeForward is an innovative program from BMW that is designed to optimize charging for both the driver and the power grid. Through BMW ChargeForward, owners can save money through financial incentives while helping ease the burden on the power grid.

You can learn more about BMW ChargeForward here.

The time it takes to charge your BMW EV depends on several factors, such as the model of your BMW EV, the capacity of its battery, the type of charger you're using, and the current charge level of the battery. A standard 120V household outlet can take over a day to fully charge your vehicle. However, the Flexible Fast Charger, Multifunction Charger, and BMW Wallbox use 240V and can fully charge in as little as 12 hours. To learn more about charging times, check the vehicle detail page of the model you are interested in.

Every all-electric BMW comes equipped with the Flexible Fast Charger or Multifunction Charger (depending on model and model year). This portable device, compatible with any 120V or 240V outlet, delivers optimized charging wherever you go. You can charge from 0–100% in under 12 hours at a 240V outlet.

The optional BMW Wallbox is a great addition for any owner seeking extra convenience. With its robust and weather-proof design, it can be installed in your garage or outdoors and delivers Level 2 charging at 9.6 kW charging speeds (~30 miles per hour of charging, reaching its full charge in approximately 12 hours).  

Yes, the Level 1 (120V) charger can be used on standard home electrical outlets. However, this is the slowest form of charging and can take a substantial amount of time for a full charge.