The new BMW i3 electric car pops its public charging cherry at the first-ever public charging station in the US. Located at the Fashion Valley Mall in San Diego, this station offers a Combo-Charging fast charging system that can top up an i3 in 30 minutes.

The station allows EV users to charge their car from a standard 110 volt outlet with a cord set, a 220 volt charging wallbox or public charging station and also from a DC Fast Charging public charging station all from the same charging inlet. The Combo-Charging solution, developed jointly by BMW and General Motors, is currently the fastest way of charging electric cars, even though it still takes 30 minutes, and there is data available on the effect it might have on the life of the battery pack.

Fast charging seems to be the focus of all major automakers including BMW, GM, Ford, Chrysler, Daimler, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche as the best solution to make electric cars more usable in the real world.

The launch of the first public charging station is the stepping stone for putting in place a full network of fast chargers. It also creates some hype for the launch of new BMW i models in the US. The growing DC “Combo” public charging infrastructure in the US will be accessible for the all-electric BMW i3 when equipped with the DC Fast Charging option. Production has begun in Leipzig, Germany of the the BMW i3, which will be available in the US in the second quarter of 2014.