Speaking at the opening of the world’s first BMW i showroom on Park Lane in London, Ian Robertson, member of the board of management for sales and marketing at BMW AG, said there would be discussion with fleets on how the 360° Electric package can be tailored to their own service and breakdown arrangements. 

Alleviating range concerns, 360 Electric includes mobile roadside charging and intelligent satellite navigation which plans the most efficient routes and shows charging point locations, supported by a smartphone application. For longer trips, drivers will be given access to conventionally-powered BMWs under a partnership with Sixt.

BMW will also offer a home charging Wallbox, adding smart charging at up to three times the speed of a standard outlet. 

‘It’s a holistic approach, and there are many features that will come alongside this that have been developed over the last 12 months,’ Robertson said.

BMW’s i brand launches with the i3 electric lower-medium size hatchback in late 2013, followed by the i8 plug-in hybrid supercar in 2014. Bespoke i dealers will be rolled out worldwide, initially focused on large urban areas.

The i8’s high performance, three-cylinder TwinPower Turbo petrol engine will be manufactured at the carmaker’s Hams Hall factory, near Birmingham, Robertson told delegates at the SMMT International Automobile Summit, also held this week.