Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Enroll now to test BMW’s wireless charging system for electric vehicles

By

If you’re tired of plugging in your electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid like a commoner, BMW has a completely wireless solution for you — if you live in California and are accepted into the company’s pilot program, that is. Those caveats aside, wireless charging has long been promised and teased for the increasing numbers of electric cars, and this program is a welcome step toward making wireless charging a reality for all EV owners.

This is the program’s first expansion outside of Germany. Available on the BMW 530e plug-in hybrid, the system includes a wireless charging ground pad and a car pad affixed to the underside of the vehicle. The system then wirelessly charges the 530e over a gap of about 3 inches, with a charging power of 3.2KW. Specifically, the ground pad creates a magnetic field, which induces an electrical current inside the car pad. This would charge the onboard batteries fully in approximately 3.5 hours. The electrical efficiency of the wireless charging system is 85 percent, so your electrical bill will include electrons that you never got to enjoy. If you’re worried about frying your cat, the ground fixture is constantly monitoring for foreign matter and switches off if anything is detected.

Recommended Videos

The BMW pilot program is available to 200 qualifying applicants who live in California and start a new lease on a 530e plug-in hybrid. To qualify for the program, you must qualify for the 530e lease, as well as fill out two surveys to determine your and your home’s suitability for the program. The first questionnaire, available here, determines whether you own your home or need homeowners association (HOA) approval to do the installation required, and if there is a BMW dealer close enough to your address. Apparently, renters and HOA neighborhoods will not be favored by BMW.

Related

The second survey (available here) helps determine if your home, garage, and electric grid are suitable for the charging pad installation. The company is asking participants to have an enclosed garage for the charging pad, even though they state that the charging pad can be installed outdoors. It is likely that the company is simply attempting to limit variables during this first U.S. test. Installation, maintenance, and removal of the wireless charging ground pad is free to participants and completely covered by BMW.

If you are approved for the program, you can take your confirmation number to one of 33 participating California BMW dealers and start a new 36-month lease on a 530e. We spoke to BMW on what happens after the three years, and they said, “The 530e and related hardware must be returned after the lease expires.” This is a real bummer, but given that this wireless charging system is already in use in Germany (as well as countless phones) it is likely to become a permanent fixture of BMW’s electric lineup.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Adam Kaslikowski
Adam Kaslikowski
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I don't have oil in my veins, but I do have it all over my carpets and clothes. Over my 10-year journalistic career, my…
The BMW i7 M70 is an electric limousine that does supercar speeds
BMW i7 M70 xDrive

BMW’s flagship EV, the i7, hit the road last year. While the luxury EV broke plenty of boundaries, both in terms of performance and comfort, many people were left wondering when it would inevitably get its “M” package. Well, those people got their wish in April, and we recently went hands-on with one to see just how much of a difference the motorsport package makes to what is BMW’s most luxurious vehicle.

On paper, it should be mind-blowing. The all-wheel-drive i7 M70 xDrive (to give it its full title) has two powerful motors driving its wheels. The motor at the back is the most powerful unit BMW has ever produced at 483 horsepower. Combined with the front motor, i7 M70 xDrive lays down a total of 650 horsepower, making it the most powerful battery electric vehicle (BEV) the German company currently has on the market. But cars aren’t driven on paper, so let's see how that actually transfers to the road.
The 'M' styling is a little toned-down
There are two types of people who pay up for an M package on a BMW. First, there are the actual motor sport enthusiasts who want to maximize the performance of their otherwise businesslike sedan. The upgrade gives them more of an opportunity to let the leash off and have fun with their vehicle. Then there are the people who pick the package so everyone knows they dropped an extra $20,000 or so on their luxury motor.

Read more
Both sporty and posh, the i5 may be the electric BMW you’ve been waiting for
BMW i5 M60 xDrive parked on an overlook

In 2022, BMW electrified its 7 Series with the i7 xDrive60 -- now it’s the 5 Series’ turn to get the EV treatment. The BMW i5 eDrive40 is the first fully electric 5 Series from the German manufacturer, but isn’t likely the last as BMW continues its march toward full electrification.

The i5 features several technological advancements, both in terms of performance and comfort. A version with the M package is also available right out of the gate for drivers who crave performance, speed, and the M badge's iconic blue-and-red stripes. The 5 Series is a particular type of car aimed at tempering the formality and appropriateness of the 7 Series with the sportiness and agility of the 3 Series. Both vehicles have electric models on the road, so it’s interesting to see whether the i5 can plug the gap appropriately.

Read more
Charging your EV is about to get easier, as carmakers team up to build 30,000 chargers
2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD close up of central touchscreen.

EVs certainly have all of the hype in the car industry right now, but their adoption has been hampered by one major issue: public charging. Where do I charge? How fast can I charge? And how much will it cost? Going through those mental hurdles will keep folks away from making the switch to an EV -- even if the reality is that it's not as complicated as it seems.

To help accelerate the EV transition, and more importantly provide the necessary infrastructure for anyone who already has an EV, a consortium of automakers has announced a massive investment in EV chargers in North America. The group of seven major companies -- BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis -- is investing collectively in installing a whopping 30,000 EV chargers along major highways and in urban areas.

Read more