Opening of BMW Charging Hub Lounge
Combining Charging Station, Cafe, and Exhibition Space... First within BMW Group
First PnC for Imported Cars Introduced in Cooperation with KEPCO
First Domestic Charging Station to Install Underbody Cooling Facility
Exterior view of the BMW Charging Hub Lounge located in Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul (Photo by BMW Group Korea)
BMW is establishing an electric vehicle charging station in Korea’s imported car industry for the first time that completes user authentication, charging, and payment simply by connecting the charging cable. To prepare for fire incidents, various fire extinguishing equipment such as underbody cooling fire suppression devices have also been introduced, and the charging station itself is designed to function as both a caf? and an exhibition space.
On the 12th, BMW Group Korea announced the opening of this new-concept charging station, the 'BMW Charging Hub Lounge,' in Hoehyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
First Imported Car Application of PnC... Underbody Cooling Also First in Korea
The BMW Charging Hub Lounge is equipped with six 200 kW fast chargers developed by LG Electronics. Notably, it supports the 'Plug and Charge (PnC)' method, which simplifies the electric vehicle charging process. When the charging cable is connected to the EV, the vehicle information is automatically recognized, enabling user authentication and payment to be completed seamlessly. Although Hyundai Motor Group has already used this method, BMW is the first to introduce it in Korea’s imported car industry. Joint development with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) began in 2022, and official PnC services are scheduled to start in November.
Kim Chang-hyun, Charging Infrastructure Strategy Manager at BMW Group Korea, explained, "This is the world’s first urban complex charging space introduced within the BMW Group," adding, "Customers with electric vehicles from brands other than BMW will also be able to freely visit and enjoy the space."
Since the PnC service was developed in collaboration with KEPCO, other companies will also be able to use this function if they develop services through partnerships with KEPCO in the future. This lays the foundation for all EV customers to use a more convenient charging method.
Fire response measures, which have recently been controversial, are also being strengthened. Triple sprinklers have been installed in the EV charging area, and firefighting equipment consisting of thermal imaging CCTV, AVD fire extinguishers, and fire blankets has been provided. Underbody cooling fire suppression devices will also be introduced in the future. Manager Kim emphasized, "It can be understood as sprinklers coming out from under the vehicle to cool it down," adding, "The BMW Charging Hub Lounge will be the first charging station in Korea to have such equipment installed."
Also Serving as a Lounge... Exhibiting Limited Editions and New Technologies
The services provided along with the functions have also been newly revamped. Beyond the simple concept of a charging station, it will also serve as a lounge. While customers of all EV brands charge their batteries, they can relax in the lounge and explore the latest vehicles from BMW Group Korea. Mainly, BMW’s online limited edition vehicles will be exhibited here.
On the 12th, a BMW i7 vehicle is waiting to be charged at the BMW Charging Hub Lounge in Jung-gu, Seoul.
The construction and operation of the BMW Charging Hub Lounge are carried out in partnership with GS Group and LG Group. First, in cooperation with GS Caltex, the BMW Charging Hub Lounge was built on the site of a former gas station. GS Chargebee operates the entire charging service as the charging business operator, and the lounge is managed by the Parnas Hotel. In the future, plans include showcasing various charging technologies and equipment such as robot chargers in collaboration with LG Electronics.
The lounge operates from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, while the charging station is available year-round. BMW also plans to install 350 kW ultra-fast chargers. Furthermore, the number of chargers nationwide, currently 1,600 as of this month, is planned to increase to 2,100 by the end of the year.
A BMW Group Korea official stated, "The BMW Charging Hub Lounge is the world’s first lounge-type fast charging station configured within the BMW Group," adding, "It will be a space where charging, relaxation, and vehicle exhibition can all be experienced at once."
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