The way forward for BMW’s electrical mobility is being written in Landshut, Germany. This historic plant, lengthy recognized for its experience in light-weight development and powertrain parts, now stands on the forefront of BMW’s largest technological shift in a long time. Right here, BMW is ramping up manufacturing of its sixth-generation (Gen6) high-voltage battery system, a breakthrough in effectivity, price discount, and charging velocity that may outline the upcoming Neue Klasse fashions.
We got an unique alternative to step inside BMW’s high-voltage battery workshop at Landshut, the place engineers and executives shared an in-depth have a look at the improvements shaping BMW’s subsequent technology of EVs. Despite the fact that a few of the particulars have been held again for future occasions, the a number of technical workshops gave us a glimpse at how BMW intends to redefine electrical driving, from vitality storage to charging to sustainability.
New Battery Structure: From Modules to Structural Integration
BMW’s Gen6 battery is a dramatic departure from its predecessor, Gen5, which powers the present BMW iX1, iX2, iX3, iX, i4, i5 and i7 fashions. Whereas the earlier technology relied on prismatic cells housed in particular person modules, the brand new system transitions to cylindrical cells with a 46mm diameter, obtainable in two heights: 95mm and 120mm. The shift from modules to a direct cell-to-pack (CTP) integration permits for higher vitality density, lowered weight, and extra environment friendly use of area.
However BMW didn’t cease there. The corporate can also be implementing pack-to-open-body integration, which means that the battery pack itself is a structural factor of the automotive. In contrast to standard designs the place the battery is enclosed inside a separate housing after which put in within the automotive, the Neue Klasse fashions could have an open chassis till the battery is mounted, basically forming the car’s ground.
As BMW defined, this has profound advantages:
- A decrease car weight, main to raised effectivity and driving dynamics.
- A totally flat underbody, enhancing aerodynamics and rising vary.
- Improved crash security, with the battery pack itself contributing to the structural integrity of the car.
In response to BMW, this design philosophy eliminates pointless supplies, reduces manufacturing complexity, and enhances their capacity to scale battery sizes throughout completely different car sorts.
Quicker, Extra Environment friendly Charging with 800V Structure
For any EV, charging velocity is as crucial as vary, and BMW has addressed this by transitioning from a 400V system to an 800V structure. The 800V structure shouldn’t be new to the business. Numerous BMW’s direct and oblique rivals are already providing electrical automobiles with the extra advanced system. BMW was not able to share all the small print on what’s coming listed here are some particulars confirmed at this stage:
- 30% sooner DC charging in comparison with Gen5.
- As much as 300 km of vary added in simply 10 minutes.
- A dramatic 50% discount in vitality loss, enhancing general effectivity.
BMW has additionally built-in a versatile charging system, which means the Gen6 battery can swap between 800V and 400V charging, relying on the infrastructure obtainable. This ensures that drivers can make the most of high-powered ultra-fast chargers whereas sustaining compatibility with present networks.
What they haven’t confirmed are the 10-80 p.c charging instances (we tried getting a solution) and the charging price. Our personal sources, however but not confirmed by BMW, level to 350 kW of quick charging and to a brand new NACS port put in on Neue Klasse automobiles which can give BMW entry to the Tesla charging community as effectively.
The Vitality Grasp
One of many key enablers of this effectivity is the Vitality Grasp, a classy management unit developed in-house by BMW. In contrast to earlier methods the place numerous energy administration parts have been scattered all through the car, the Vitality Grasp acts as a central hub, distributing excessive and low-voltage vitality with higher precision and intelligence. It additionally improves thermal administration, guaranteeing optimum charging speeds with out extreme warmth buildup or vitality waste. Once more, we did attempt to get some concrete numbers in terms of thermal administration enhancements, however nothing was shared at the moment.
Moreover, BMW has designed the Vitality Grasp to be simply replaceable, addressing a significant concern in EV upkeep. Whereas Gen5 battery administration methods have been deeply embedded contained in the pack, the Vitality Grasp sits beneath the rear seats, making it much more accessible for servicing and repairs.
Extra Vary, Extra Effectivity, Much less Price
Vary anxiousness has been a persistent problem in EV adoption, and BMW is tackling it head-on with a 30% improve in vary in comparison with Gen5 fashions. In layman phrases? A spread of 600 to 900 km on the WLTP cycle. Naturally, the extra stringent EPA commonplace will deliver these numbers a bit, however will nonetheless be aggressive in at the moment’s market.
This isn’t only a results of increased vitality density (up 20%), but in addition BMW’s pursuit of effectivity features throughout the board. Aerodynamics play a vital function on this enchancment. By eradicating the necessity for a separate underbody panel, BMW’s new battery-integrated ground design creates a seamless, totally enclosed decrease floor. This reduces drag and contributes to the 20% general car effectivity improve achieved with Gen6.
Weight financial savings are one other issue. By eliminating modules and integrating the battery into the construction, BMW removes redundant supplies, additional optimizing the car’s weight distribution and dynamics. How a lot lighter? They aren’t prepared to speak that both.
However maybe essentially the most spectacular achievement is price discount. BMW has reduce battery manufacturing prices by 40-50%, a staggering enchancment that may enable the corporate to worth its EVs extra competitively. This was achieved by way of not solely a simplified battery design, but in addition by way of extra environment friendly manufacturing strategies, permitting fewer meeting steps and a excessive stage of standardization.
Bidirectional Charging
BMW’s Gen6 battery isn’t only for powering the automotive—it’s additionally an influence supply. The Neue Klasse will introduce bidirectional charging, permitting automobiles to:
- Feed electrical energy again into the grid (Automobile-to-Grid, V2G).
- Energy properties throughout outages (Automobile-to-Residence, V2H).
- Cost different EVs when wanted (Automobile-to-Automobile, V2V).
The Position of Landshut: BMW’s Battery Innovation Hub
Whereas Munich’s Battery Cell Competence Middle (BCCC) focuses on analysis and cell chemistry growth, Landshut is the place BMW brings these improvements to life. Right here, the corporate has made important investments in high-voltage battery manufacturing, guaranteeing that its Gen6 know-how is manufactured to the best high quality requirements.
BMW can also be adopting a “local-for-local” technique, with 5 new Gen6 battery crops deliberate throughout Europe, North America, and China. This strategy minimizes CO₂ emissions from transportation, strengthens provide chain resilience, and creates native jobs.
Sustainability is on the core of BMW’s electrification push, with a give attention to closing the battery supplies loop. The corporate is actively recovering lithium, nickel, and cobalt from end-of-life batteries and reintegrating them into manufacturing, decreasing reliance on newly mined supplies.
A Leap for BMW and Electrical Mobility
Strolling by way of Landshut, it turned clear that BMW’s Gen6 battery system is greater than an incremental improve—it’s an entire reinvention of how electrical automobiles are designed and constructed.
With increased vitality density, sooner charging, decrease prices, and new ranges of structural integration, the Neue Klasse will set a brand new benchmark for premium EVs. And shortly, these billion-dollar investments and numerous hours of engineering will materialize into the primary Neue Klasse EV: the iX3.
