BMW installs public DC fast chargers for EVs at Ara Damansara

BMW Group Malaysia just announced that they installed new EV DC fast chargers for the public at Auto Bavaria Ara Damansara. According to BMW, this is the first of many, with plans of installing charging stations at more dealers throughout the country. The chargers are rated for 180kW and have twin Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors, which means you can charge two EVs at the same time.

This installation is leading up to the next generation BMW i lineup, with hopes to expand the local charging infrastructure network before the next launch. BMW did not mention the charging speed of the chargers, but we can expect it to be faster than any AC charger out there. Although they can be more expensive to set up, DC chargers are generally faster and are more suited for locations where drivers will only stop for a while, such as a gas station.

Malaysia’s EV network has been progressing at a decent pace, with many companies pitching in to add more chargers throughout the country. In August, Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii) and the Malay Vehicle Importers and Traders Association of Malaysia (PEKEMA) announced that they are planning to set up 1,000 DC charging stations by 2025. In October, Socar and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) teamed up to set up 50 EV zones in Malaysia by the end of 2022. Most recently, Petronas and Mercedes signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up DC chargers at Petronas stations by H1 of 2022.

“We have been driving the change towards electrification not only with our growing portfolio of electrified vehicles, but also by expanding the local charging infrastructure network across the country,” said Managing Director of BMW Group Malaysia Hans de Visser. “We are confident that this move will be mutually beneficial in ensuring charging infrastructures are more accessible across the country, and help alleviate the concerns of potential EV owners in Malaysia such as range anxiety.”

To help with the infrastructure, BMW partnered with Greentech Malaysia who helped Petronas with their EV chargers back in 2017. We’ve heard rumours of BMW Malaysia planning this since August, so it’s nice to see that it’s finally happening.

The BMW iX and iX3 both have a maximum DC charging speed of 150kW, so they can’t even utilise the full 180kW offered by the chargers. Nevertheless, you can expect to get up to 80% charge with just half an hour of charging.