BMW Group's Venture Capital unit - BMW i Ventures - announced today that it is investing in Coulomb Technologies.
Coulomb's subsidiary - ChargePoint - prides itself on being the largest online charging network in the world, and on connecting electric vehicle drivers to charging stations in more than 14 countries. ChargePoint says that it provides "the most feature-rich solution for station owners and EV drivers alike, with innovations in software services from mobile applications to vehicle telematics."
BMW touts its investment as proof of its support for the development of infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles.
"We are delighted to have one of the world's premier automakers join our investor team," Pat Romano, president and CEO of Coulomb Technologies, said in a statement. "We look forward to working with BMW to expand our global footprint and help support the adoption of electric vehicles worldwide."
"BMW i Ventures recognizes the importance of a global charging network for electric vehicle drivers," said Dr. Ulrich Quay, Managing Director of BMW i Ventures. "BMW is focused on providing comprehensive services that make the charging of BMW electric vehicles a premium experience. ChargePoint is the largest, longest established network with a significantly advanced and mature feature set. This investment will forge a close and strategic relationship as we further our electric mobility offer."
BMW has several plug-in concepts, but its ActiveE is currently undergoing field trials and is slated for mass production in 2013. The ActiveE is based on BMW's 1 Series, and BMW claims that it can go 100 miles without needing to recharge. It has an output of 170 horsepower and can go from 0-60 in under nine seconds, based on test results by BMW AG.
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