BMW and Bosch just came up with an $6500 DC fast charger.

[Chaconzies]

Just read an article about BMW's unveiling of a more affordable DC fast charger that uses the SAE combo cord. I think it's pretty cool to see BMW/Bosch contributing with a wayyy cheaper charger. Personally it'd be great to see these at BMW dealers and free to use for all vehicles.

"Today BMW unveiled two new programs to help get more EVs on the road. Not only has BMW partnered with automotive parts supplier Bosch to produce a game-changing new fast charger, BMW i3 EV purchasers will now have access to a year of fast charging from the nation’s largest private networks of fast chargers. It turns out that the Germans are just as serious about electricity as everything else."

"What the two German engineering giants created is the 100 pound i DC 24KWh fast charger. It’s the size of a piece of carry-on luggage and costs just $6,548. Not only is the actual hardware only a third as expensive as previous chargers, it is significantly cheaper to install."

Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/bmws-evs-fast-chargers/#ixzz38olzl6Q0

See also: http://www.greencarreports.com/news...ign=Feed:+GreenCarReports+(Green+Car+Reports)

 

[TonyWilliams]

Only about 24kW, but a far more viable alternative to no charger at all.

Unfortunately, these were designed with 277/480 volt three phase power, and that is not what is typical at a car dealership. Those will have 208 volt service. So, it won't be cheap or easy to install.

 

[Nashco]

Big step in the right direction! The DC chargers have really dropped in price over the last couple of years, while also improving in quality and reducing in size.

Bryce

 

[xylhim]

This makes it more viable for an at home DC charger as well. Get that cost cut in half, and it would be affordable to install at home.

 

[nozferatu]

Indeed they have dropped in price! Still a tad expensive but they are following the usual trend of new electronic systems...very expensive at first....very affordable after a while.

Looks like a great charging standard for many vehicles to come.

 

[cwerdna]

Press release: http://www.bmwusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=2132&mid=&searchresult
Spec sheet (doesn't say much): http://bmwmedia.iconicweb.com/mediasite/attachments/BMW_i_DC_Fast_Charger_Spec_Sheet.pdf which which mentions

Voltage 400V–480V, 3 phase
...
Price $6,548 2
2 BMW subsidized price for BMW Centers and authorized partners.

 

[FutureFolly]

Are any of these operational yet? Has anyone even heard estimates of when they will start shipping?

I wouldn't be surprised if the permitting process still slows installation by a few months.

Are NRG, eVgo or the like partnering with BMW & Bosch to anyone's knowledge?

I've read that a dual-mode(CHAdeMo & CCS) models is in the works. This is the first DC-FC technology that has the potential to overtake Tesla Supercharger network. Taking $15-25K off the cost of equipment plus $25-50K in construction cost will entice more investors. Most importantly it will make the construction of multiple DC-FC stations more viable. The current cost of one 50KW DC-FC may be equivalent to as many 3-4 24KW Bosch chargers.

The real reason why Tesla's Supercharger network stands out is having multiple chargers at each station. It creates dependability of being able to charge. Multiple chargers means the entire stations is almost never inoperable. Tesla sets the gold standard by consistently making sure busy SC stations get upgraded too.

Tony, what is considered "good" profit on a DC-FC station? You said you invested in a CHAdeMO charger in SD, as I recall. I would be surprised if they average more than $150 per day in revenue. My guess is around $25K per year in profit per charger is considered good, and $10-15K is considered more realistic.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Tony, what is considered "good" profit on a DC-FC station? You said you invested in a CHAdeMO charger in SD, as I recall. I would be surprised if they average more than $150 per day in revenue. My guess is around $25K per year in profit per charger is considered good, and $10-15K is considered more realistic.

Honestly, if you just think of it as a Coke vending machine (that takes a tad more energy resources), the revenue is probably typical between the two.

Since every deal is different, typical would be hard to pin down.

 

[cwerdna]

Are any of these operational yet? Has anyone even heard estimates of when they will start shipping?

I wouldn't be surprised if the permitting process still slows installation by a few months.

Are NRG, eVgo or the like partnering with BMW & Bosch to anyone's knowledge?

Nope. None that I know of. Seems like vaporware/marketing FUD, so far.

Gotta love the comparisons to Tesla's (90 kW and 120 kW) Superchargers. Even the press either by confusion or manipulation picked up on this (e.g. http://www.evworld.com/news.cfm?rssid=33732 "BMW Announces Intention to Build Out Its Own Version of Tesla's Supercharger Network").

Between around the time of this announcement and now, the Tesla Supercharger stall count in the US rose from 646 (http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=381685#p3816850 to 748 (http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?p=395673#p395673). And, the CHAdeMO count in the US rose from 633 (https://web.archive.org/web/20140804094437/http://www.chademo.com/) to 731 (http://www.chademo.com/).

There is http://www.chargepoint.com/express/, but that's just so that Chargepoint's authentication and networking equipment can be installed on it so these can be on their network. Chargepoint doesn't own charging stations though (except probably the ones at their HQ). Businesses buy them and have to pay fees to Chargepoint.

Currently, it seems that of the existing and new Combo1 DC FCs being added in the US, they tend to be from BTC Power, efacec, ABB and possibly 1 more vendor.

Talk is cheap. We'll have to see what happens in terms of real action.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
Ok, it looks like the above will soon move out of the vaporware stage.

There's a pic at https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205436058202106&set=gm.735557429851454&type=1 (in the BMW i3 Facebook group) of one being installed at Crevier BMW in Santa Ana.

Update: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1496658680608575&set=gm.737225059684691&type=1&permPage=1 on 11/9/14, claims the above is now up and running. So, we have 1 of these operational in the US, so far (that I know of).

However, a post that just appeared a at ~5 pm Pacific 11/9/14 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/BMWi3/permalink/737234099683787/?comment_id=737251116348752&offset=0&total_comments=5 was a report that said "I was at Crevier earlier today wanting to test out there newly installed DCFC. Unfortunately there was an internal fault code."

Update 2: In the above thread, it mentions that dealer actually has *4* of the 24 kW BMW/Bosch DC FCs. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=514093888729757&set=gm.737827142957816&type=1 has a pic of 3 of them in a row.