BMW outs Streetlights That Double as EV Chargers

One of the biggest hurdles facing adoption of electric vehicles – besides driving range – is the relative lack of charging locations. Sure, there are dedicated charging spots in most parking garages and some commercial properties, but given the fact that you need to seek these out and compete with others for the chargers is an inconvenience. BMW has proposed an idea which is brilliantly simple – replacing streetlights with ones that have built in charging ports.

The BMW Light and Charge station would not only add charging outlets, but replace aging, energy-ineffecient lights with modern, modular LED ones. The chargers won’t be exclusive to BMW vehicles, though there will be a charge to use the stations. BMW plans on rolling out the first of its Light and Charge streetlights in Munich, Germany in 2015. Hopefully, we’ll see these turn up in more cities – and in sufficient quantities – as time goes on.

Now all they need to do is figure out a way to make charging faster…