On the 12th, BMW Group Korea officially opened its new innovative electric vehicle charging hub, the “BMW Charging Hub Lounge,” in Hoihyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul.
The BMW Charging Hub Lounge is the world’s first lounge-style rapid charging station within the BMW Group, combining electric vehicle charging with relaxation. It allows customers of all brands of electric vehicles to recharge their batteries while enjoying luxurious amenities and exploring BMW Group Korea’s latest vehicles in a comfortable environment.
In line with the characteristics of electricity as a new energy source for vehicles, BMW Group Korea has been conceptualizing and implementing the “CHARGING NEXT” project since late last year. Following the establishment of BMW charging stations in various locations nationwide, such as Gyeongju and Jumunjin, they decided to set up the BMW Charging Hub Lounge in a bustling urban area to enhance customer accessibility.
The BMW Charging Hub Lounge, located in Hoihyeon-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, features six 200kW rapid chargers and includes an indoor lounge with a café. There is also a dedicated exhibition space where customers can experience luxury BMW models and a variety of limited edition models from BMW and MINI.
BMW Group Korea has ensured safety measures for the electric vehicle charging area, implementing triple sprinkler systems along with heat-sensing CCTV and fire-extinguishing kits equipped with AVD extinguishers and blankets.
The development and operation of the BMW Charging Hub Lounge has been a collaborative effort with GS Group and LG Group. The lounge was established at the Energy Plus Seoul building, a site that once housed gas stations, in cooperation with GS Caltex. GS Chargebee manages all charging services as the operator, while the lounge is managed by the Parnas Hotel.
Notably, the six rapid chargers installed in the BMW Charging Hub Lounge are products developed by LG Electronics, supporting the “Plug & Charge (PnC)” service that simplifies the electric vehicle charging process. PnC technology recognizes vehicle information automatically upon connecting the charging cable, allowing for user authentication and payment to occur simultaneously. BMW Group Korea was the first in the imported car industry to sign a memorandum of understanding with Korea Electric Power Corporation in April 2022 to jointly develop PnC. This service is set to launch officially in November.
The BMW Charging Hub Lounge operates on weekdays from 10 AM to 7 PM (the charging station is open year-round), and BMW plans to install 350kW ultra-rapid chargers and introduce lower cooling extinguishing devices to provide an even safer and more comfortable service environment for users.
Furthermore, BMW Group Korea is actively investing in building charging infrastructure. As of September 2024, they have completed the installation of 1,600 chargers nationwide, with plans to secure a cumulative total of 2,100 chargers by the end of this year.
Li Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr