BMW’s Next-Generation EV Batteries Will Offer More Range and Cost Less
Automakers across the industry are racing to implement electric vehicle (EV) plans at lightning speed. BMW’s latest EV battery design seeks to propel the luxury car brand into the future by optimizing charging capabilities, cutting costs, and reducing environmental impact.
BMW’s Next-Generation Battery Design
BMW’s new sixth-generationlithium-ion battery designis set to debut around 2025 on its upcoming Neue Klasse platform-based EVs. According toBMW, the automaker’s new battery technology uses a cylindrical design that allows for modular use across the automaker’s upcoming lineup of EVs.
In addition, the updated batteries will use a pack to open body configuration integrated into the installation space. The automaker says this will save space in the designs of its future EVs.
BMW estimates its new EV battery design will improve charging speed and enhance range by up to 30 percent. Also, the new batteries will reduce costs by up to 50 percent and reduce emissions from cell production by up to 60 percent.
How Will BMW’s Next-Generation EV Batteries Be More Efficient?
According toScienceDirect, efficiency for electric motors is expressed as a ratio between useful energy (output) and total energy consumption. The new lithium-ion batteries from BMW will contain more nickel and silicon and less cobalt, which the automaker says will improve energy density by more than 20 percent.
Energy density refers to the amount of energy the battery contains when compared to its weight. The higher the energy density of a battery, the longer it will last without needing to increase the size of a battery pack. See ourcomparison of lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteriesfor more info.
BMW is also increasing the drivetrain and charging architecture to 800v which will increase charging capacity and reduce the time it takes to charge the vehicle from 10 to 80 percent. These updates translate to greater range for BMW’s future EVs.
How Will These Batteries Reduce Carbon Emissions?
Cutting carbon emissions is one of the primary drivers of EV development. BMW says its focus is on keeping the carbon footprint and consumption of resources for production as low as possible. To achieve this, the automaker plans to work with battery cell manufacturers that use recycled raw materials.
The automaker says it is committed to using only renewable energy sources for the production of its sixth-generation EV batteries. BMW’s long-term goal is to use fullyrecyclable EV batteriesin its future vehicles, per the report linked earlier.
How Will These Batteries Cost Less?
On top of efficiency improvement and emission reduction, BMW projects its upcoming lithium-ion batteries will reduce production costs too. Thanks to improved energy density, battery packs use more, smaller battery cells. This saves weight and cuts the cost per battery cell required.
According to BMW, by leveraging the expertise of its in-house battery team and together with the new battery design, these new EV batteries are less expensive to produce than the out-going generation of batteries. The automaker’s goal is to bring down the cost to manufacture EVs to the same level as modern internal combustion engine vehicles.
What BMW EV Models Will Use These Next-Generation Batteries?
BMW’s sixth-generation batteries will be the power source for its future EVs. That is, until the automaker switches over tosolid-state batteries for its EVs, which it is already developing. According toAutomotive News Europe, BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse stated, “[t]heNeue Klassestarts with models from the middle car segment, but of course there is more to come.”
Based on Zipse’s comments, BMW will focus on cars similar in size to the current 3-series. The automaker recently launched its new generation of its 7-series flagship sedan, but it does not utilize the updated platform or sixth-generation lithium-ion batteries.
BMW’s Battery Plans Solidify Its EV Future
BMW’s goal is to have over two million fully-electric vehicles on the road by the end of 2025. The automaker currently offers four plug-in hybrids and two pure EV models, with another EV debuting in 2023. BMW expects the Neue Klasse platform and updated lithium-ion battery to accelerate EV sales volume up to 50 percent by the end of this decade.
In addition, BMW’s other brands, including MINI and Rolls-Royce will benefit from these updated technologies too. It is safe to say EVs are BMWs future.
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