BMW i3 Home Battery Announced

BMW i says that the power systems it creates can be had with new or 2nd life battery packs from its EVs. “Coupled with the home charging and solar energy programs, the system enables BMW drivers to embrace holistic sustainability beyond e-mobility”, said Rob Healey, manager of electric vehicle infrastructure for BMW North America, in a statement.

BMW is making history as the first automotive manufacturer to use a complete automotive high-voltage battery for energy storage, as the company announced during the Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition 29 that the BMW i3 battery can be used for storing energy at home.

BMW’s home energy storage system will be able to utilize repurposed batteries of the i3 electric vehicle, which will expand the holistic sustainability of the auto and support the next phase of energy independence and efficiency that BMW is looking to provide to its customers. They also include software to figure out the best times to charge or discharge the system.

The energy storage units can operate home appliances and entertainment systems for up to one full day. According to surveys, an average house in US consumes 15-30kWh per day.

When you need the power that is stored in the systems batteries, such as during electricity peak times or a blackout, the ISS kicks in and supplies your usual home/office power needs for up to 24 hours. However, it’s not yet clear how a battery buyback program would work. Attaching a charging station to that system lets owners lower a car’s overall carbon footprint by ensuring that more of the electricity that powers it comes from a renewable source. Like Tesla, BMW may pursue both commercial and home applications for its battery packs.

The catch, however, is that there are now no used i3 batteries that are ready to be used for the system, as the program is not yet in place. Tesla, Nissan, Daimler and others have already introduced energy-storage systems for the home market, as well as a number of non-automotive vendors with their own solutions.