BMW, ChargePoint and DriveNow Team for Bay Area Sustainability Hackathon for Electric Vehicles, EV Charging and Mobility Services

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- BMW, ChargePoint and DriveNow have teamed for BMW's Bay Area Sustainability Hackathon focusing on one of the fastest and rapidly growing industry sectors, electric vehicles, EV charging and mobility services. More than 200 developers, entrepreneurs, electric vehicle experts and corporate executives are expected at the weekend event focusing on sustainability issues facing our future as a greener planet. The event takes place at the BMW Group Technology Office USA at 2606 Bayshore Pkwy., Mountain View, CA on Saturday, April 27 through Sunday, April 28, 2013. The Hackathon is hosted by the BMW Group Technology Office USA and sponsored by ChargePoint, Inc. and DriveNow.

Organizers are looking for technical, as well as non-technical people to build apps, mobile apps and hacks to address some of the issues surrounding electric vehicles and EV charging. Participants will hack, eat, compete for prizes across different categories, and most importantly: network with likeminded people to work on new or current projects. All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished judges. Prizes include thousands of dollars in gift cards, service and product prizes being awarded across several categories including: 

• Originality of the idea
• Ability to clearly articulate the details of the application 
• Technologies used in its creation 
• Level of completion of the hack over the course of the event

"Teaming with Charge Point and DriveNow to open our collective technologies to joint third-party development is a great illustration of the holistic approach to innovation with BMW i," said Dr. Dirk Rossberg, head of the BMW Group Technology Office USA. "We believe that it is about more than just the cars. We're excited about the technical creativity, talent and ingenuity we'll assemble at this first-of-its kind event focused on app development hosted right here in our office."  

"We are proud to be a sponsor of this event," said Tavis Szeto, director of marketing of ChargePoint. "Personal mobility is about keeping drivers connected and informed. Forums like this hackathon foster creativity and collaboration and help create the solutions that make the EV driving experience better."

To form a team, click on HackerLeague. Tweet about this hack: #sustainhack.

About ChargePoint, Inc.
ChargePoint is the largest online network of independently owned EV charging stations operating in 14 countries. ChargePoint provides everything an EV station owner needs to deliver turnkey electric vehicle charging services in their parking lots. For drivers, ChargePoint provides state-of-the-art features including the ability to locate, reserve and navigate to unoccupied charging stations with online tools and mobile applications. ChargePoint locations may be found online and are included on the free ChargePoint mobile applications for iPhone and Android. The ChargePoint network is open to all charging station manufacturers. Visit www.chargepoint.com for more information. Follow ChargePoint on Twitter @chargepointnet.

BMW Group In America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975.  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country.  BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 Sports Activity Coupes.  The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 139 BMW motorcycle retailers, 117 MINI passenger car dealers, and 34 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at: www.bmwgroupna.com. 

SOURCE BMW of North America, LLC

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