The new feature allows BMW owners with gas-powered cars to see how well an electric vehicle would suit their driving habits. It shows how many trips they could complete without needing to stop and charge.
To use the tool, drivers need a BMW with the company's Operating System 7 or later. They must also agree to share their driving data. The analysis requires at least 200 journeys, covering about 1,250 miles.
Dirk Wiedmann, BMW's senior vice president of sales steering and strategy and digitalization, explained the reasoning behind the new feature:
"Electric vehicles can already be incorporated perfectly into the daily routine of many customers – it's just that the majority of them haven't tried it yet. Our app's Electric Vehicle Analysis helps our customers to make an informed judgement in their choice of drive system."
BMW plans to upgrade the function in the future to expand its analysis capabilities.
The app update also brings improvements for current EV owners. The route planning feature now offers more detailed information about charging stops. It syncs with the car and sends notifications about nearby facilities at charging stations.
A new Charging Wallet feature lets drivers pick and manage their preferred charging tariffs from different providers. The app shows the prices for these tariffs at chosen charging stations.
These updates apply to both BMW and Mini apps. They aim to make the switch to electric vehicles easier for current BMW gas-car owners who are thinking about going electric.
As the car industry moves towards electric vehicles, many consumers still worry about how practical EVs are for everyday use. BMW's new app features try to address these concerns by giving drivers personalized insights based on their own driving patterns.
Source: BMW
