How to get the Fast charge unlock card for a used i3 ?

[theothertom]

I'm looking for a used i3 and when I find one my guess is the previous owner "forgot" to include the card that unlocks the fast charger. How do I order a new one ?

 

[bwilson4web]

I'm looking for a used i3

Good plan. Where are you looking?

. . . and when I find one my guess is the previous owner "forgot" to include the card that unlocks the fast charger.

Perhaps you mean the controller? This is not something an owner does unless they are a mechanic.

. . . How do I order a new one ?

Contact your local BMW service center and talk to the parts department.

Bob Wilson

 

[theothertom]

I'm looking at used car dealers. Got a recommendation?

Thanks Bob

 

[theothertom]

They will probably ask for a part number. Is there one?

 

[alohart]

I'm looking for a used i3 and when I find one my guess is the previous owner "forgot" to include the card that unlocks the fast charger.

I need help understanding your question. You say that when you find a used i3, you assume that the previous owner will have forgotten to include something. I don't know how you can assume something about a car that you haven't found, so I probably don't understand what you mean.

I also don't understand what card could be used to unlock the fast charger. Our i3 has DC fast charging but it is not locked, so no card is needed to unlock it. Maybe you are referring to cards that some companies that own DC fast chargers or AC charging stations require to use their chargers or charging stations. If so, these can be obtained from these companies.

 

[theothertom]

I talked to an i3 owner and he showed me his card. It was a small plastic card with a bar code. It was supplied by BMW when he got his car. It is used at D.C. Fast charging station so you don't have to pay. He said he lost one of his and BMW replaced it for a few $. Sorry, I don't know the official name of the card. Maybe a more revelant question is how do you pay for D.C. Fast charging?

 

[bwilson4web]

Sounds like: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1101102_bmw-i3-electric-car-owners-get-expanded-free-fast-charging

• Access to DC Fast Combo charging stations is free for 24 months to qualifying retail BMW i3 owners, those who bought or leased the car after November 1 of this year.
  
  "As part of its ongoing commitment to the growth of a robust public DC Fast charging infrastructure," the company said, it will support EVgo's efforts to install 500 more fast-charging sites.
  
  Support in this case likely means financial backing, although that was not mentioned in the release.
  
  EVgo's "Fast Combo" stations operate on both the CHAdeMO protocol used by the Nissan Leaf and the Combined Charging Standard (CCS) protocol supported by all U.S. and German carmakers.
  
  The ChargeNow DC Fast program let BMW owners in California access DC fast-charging and slower 240-Volt Level 2 charging at EVgo and ChargePoint.

Bob Wilson

 

[alohart]

I talked to an i3 owner and he showed me his card. It was a small plastic card with a bar code. It was supplied by BMW when he got his car. It is used at D.C. Fast charging station so you don't have to pay.

OK, that makes sense. The lost card is likely the EVgo card described in the article that Bob referred to above.

Maybe a more revelant question is how do you pay for D.C. Fast charging?

Several companies own DC fast chargers. Some chargers cost nothing but most these days aren't free. Some companies require a customer to create an account on the company's Website to register a credit card to be used when charging, and the company sends the customer a card to activate the charger and associate the customer with her credit card. Some chargers accept credit cards with no customer account required. Some companies offer a prepaid flat rate fee for a certain period of time during which charging is unlimited (also requiring a charging card).

So it's kind of the wild west right now. In our i3, I carry several cards from different charging companies.

 

[theothertom]

Yes, the card that I mentioned is what Bob is talking about. I used the term "unlock", perhaps "activate" would have been more descriptive. Looks like I will have to go to BMW to get a replacement. I just realized that it's only good for 2 years as stated in the link Bob referenced. So if I get a used 2015 model sounds like I'm out of luck.
Thanks for all the replies.

 

[spinball]

I highly doubt the ChargeNow card is transferable between owners.

 

[ZeroEmissionz]

ashame in australia we dont have DC fast charring anywhere yet

 

[theothertom]

Where are you in Australia ?
The app on my phone (plugshare) shows several around Brisbane, none in Sydney (surprising !), several in Canberra (of course ), one in Melbourne, none in Adelaide, and nine in the Perth area.