EV sales in the US are beginning to tick up again, and BMW is determined to grab a slice of the action. The German automaker has begun offering a free EV charging package to anyone who purchases a 2027 BMW i5, BMW i7, or BMW iX3. The package includes $500 in charging credits, which seems like small potatoes compared to the cost of a BMW. Still, it’s better than nothing, and it positions the company to compete in a rapidly evolving landscape that includes free charging hours.

The “free hours” trend has already emerged in the US, where Texas (of course!) is an epicenter of activity. The idea is to smooth out peak weekday demand spikes and take advantage of spare capacity on the grid by offering ratepayers an incentive to use more electricity during nighttime hours, with the leading utility Constellation being a representative example.

“When you sign up for a free night electricity plan, a smart meter monitors your energy usage by time of day,” Constellation explains. The company offers a “Free Power Hours” plan between midnight and 4 a.m. every night.

“Constellation also offers Discounted Nights & Fair Days, with discounted electricity supply rates from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.,” the company adds.

Constellation notes that standard service charges and other fees apply. They also advise that the free plan is not a good fit for households with heavy electricity use during the day, when higher rates apply.

Still, access to EV charging at a minimal cost is a tantalizing incentive for some households.

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