The Solarwatt Carport feeds solar energy directly into the BMW i Wallbox (Credit: BMW Group)
Solarwatt GmbH and BMW are teaming up to supply combined rooftop and carport photovoltaic solutions for future BMW i customers. The new Solarwatt Carport System will offer BMW i3 and BMW i8 owners an attractively designed solar-based electric vehicle charging plus household electricity generation system that uses innovative glass-glass modules (solar cell are encapsulated between two sheets of glass to ensure mechanical stability and durability).
Customers will be able to purchase Solarwatt products at the same time as they purchase their BMW i vehicle or, alternatively, to place their order over the internet.
Marcus Krieg, head of the 360° Electric project, explains: “This is the next step in the BMW i 360-degree package for customer-friendly electric mobility. With Solarwatt, we are delighted to be working with a premium partner for customized solar solutions who will cater to our customers’ high standards of quality and style.”
Through the 360° Electric program, BMW i will offer solutions for all aspects of electric mobility. Under this banner it has already entered into partnerships with Naturstrom, Schneider Electric and The Mobility House. These partnerships will support the overriding goal of ensuring that, by the launch date, the charging options for the BMW i3 and BMW i8 will include customer-friendly, sustainable and convenient solutions for home garage charging. All these partnerships are centered on the concept of sustainability. The BMW i3 will be the first electric vehicle on the market that has been designed specifically for electric mobility from the outset. Its market launch is scheduled for late 2013.
Detlef Neuhaus, CEO of Solarwatt GmbH, sees this approach as confirming Solarwatt’s own strategy: “Cooperating with the leading car maker and visionary supplier of electric vehicles and EV-related mobility services shows that our new systems offer practical solutions which will play an important role in future energy supply.”