BMW and Green Mountain Energy Company has announced their partnership to reduce the environmental impact of the entire BMW ActiveE fleet in the DriveNow program. BMW purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs) to cover the estimated electricity used to charge the 70 BMW ActiveE electric vehicles (EVs) in the new car sharing program, which is available in San Francisco.
“We’re proud to have Green Mountain’s partnership in our recent launch of the DriveNow program,” said Rob Healey, EV Infrastructure Manager at BMW of North America. “Green Mountain supports renewable energy all day, every day which is consistent with the level of commitment to sustainability that we bring to our BMW ActiveE community.”
DriveNow is a car sharing program that gives drivers access to efficient, premium vehicles. By purchasing RECs, BMW is ensuring that the electricity being put onto the electric grid on behalf of these ActiveE vehicles comes from clean, renewable wind energy rather than fossil fuels, like coal or natural gas. All customers who drive a BMW ActiveE in the car sharing program can trust that their vehicles are supporting a greener electric grid.
This news comes as a follow-up to the July 31 announcement made by the two companies outlining a program for the 700 BMW ActiveE drivers, known as “Electronauts,” to support renewable energy for their cars. Each EV comes with a two-year lease and BMW uses the feedback from these drivers to develop premium, sustainable vehicles for the future.
“Working with BMW to support its sustainability efforts is a perfect fit for Green Mountain,” said Scott Hart, president of Commercial Services for Green Mountain. “A car sharing program is inherently good for the environment since it takes cars off the road. BMW’s DriveNow program amplifies this environmental impact by offering consumers the opportunity to drive an electric vehicle that also supports renewable energy.”