The Smart Charging app determines optimal times for charging electric vehicles based on rates and calculates the cost accordingly.

Developed by the BMW Group and available for Android and iOS devices, the app is currently available to BMW Electronauts – early adopters who leased a BMW ActiveE as part of the company’s field trial which began in 2012, many of whom were among the first in the US to take delivery of a BMW i3.

The app will be rolled out to i3 and BMW i8 customers in the US in 2015.

Through a direct connection to a national energy rate database hosted by BMW Group partner, software company Genability, BMW i3 drivers will be able to automate their charging strategy in advance for daily and weekly use. They can also check their energy rates, determine the optimal times to charge their vehicles and get transparency over the charging costs.

By linking the BMW ConnectedDrive interface through the BMW i Remote App, customers can also precondition their BMW i3 vehicles’ temperature, see their vehicle status, view actual charging times and related costs, and adjust and disable their charging settings remotely.