The way forward for BMW’s electrical mobility is being written in Landshut, Germany. This historic plant, lengthy identified 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, value discount, and charging pace 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 era of EVs. Despite the fact that a number 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 era 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 larger vitality density, decreased 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, that means that the battery pack itself is a structural aspect of the automobile. In contrast to standard designs the place the battery is enclosed inside a separate housing after which put in within the automobile, the Neue Klasse fashions can have an open chassis till the battery is mounted, basically forming the car’s flooring.
As BMW defined, this has profound advantages:
- A decrease car weight, main to higher effectivity and driving dynamics.
- A totally flat underbody, enhancing aerodynamics and growing vary.
- Improved crash security, with the battery pack itself contributing to the structural integrity of the car.
Based on BMW, this design philosophy eliminates pointless supplies, reduces manufacturing complexity, and enhances their capacity to scale battery sizes throughout completely different car varieties.
Sooner, Extra Environment friendly Charging with 800V Structure
For any EV, charging pace is as crucial as vary, and BMW has addressed this by transitioning from a 400V system to an 800V structure. The 800V structure isn’t new to the business. A number of BMW’s direct and oblique rivals are already providing electrical automobiles with the extra advanced system. BMW was not able to share all the main points 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, bettering general effectivity.
BMW has additionally built-in a versatile charging system, that means the Gen6 battery can change between 800V and 400V charging, relying on the infrastructure obtainable. This ensures that drivers can reap the benefits of high-powered ultra-fast chargers whereas sustaining compatibility with current networks.
What they haven’t confirmed are the 10-80 % charging instances (we tried getting a solution) and the charging charge. 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 is able to 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 complicated 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 larger 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 on the subject of thermal administration enhancements, however nothing was shared presently.
Moreover, BMW has designed the Vitality Grasp to be simply replaceable, addressing a serious 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 way more accessible for servicing and repairs.
Extra Vary, Extra Effectivity, Much less Price
Vary nervousness has been a persistent problem in EV adoption, and BMW is tackling it head-on with a 30% enhance in vary in comparison with Gen5 fashions. In layman phrases? A variety of 600 to 900 km on the WLTP cycle. Naturally, the extra stringent EPA customary will convey these numbers a bit, however will nonetheless be aggressive in at the moment’s market.
This isn’t only a results of larger vitality density (up 20%), but additionally BMW’s pursuit of effectivity good points throughout the board. Aerodynamics play an important position on this enchancment. By eradicating the necessity for a separate underbody panel, BMW’s new battery-integrated flooring design creates a seamless, absolutely enclosed decrease floor. This reduces drag and contributes to the 20% general car effectivity enhance 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 probably the most spectacular achievement is value discount. BMW has lower battery manufacturing prices by 40-50%, a staggering enchancment that may permit the corporate to worth its EVs extra competitively. This was achieved via not solely a simplified battery design, but additionally via extra environment friendly manufacturing methods, permitting fewer meeting steps and a excessive stage of standardization.
Bidirectional Charging
BMW’s Gen6 battery isn’t only for powering the automobile—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-House, V2H).
- Cost different EVs when wanted (Automobile-to-Automobile, V2V).
The Function of Landshut: BMW’s Battery Innovation Hub
Whereas Munich’s Battery Cell Competence Heart (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 expertise is manufactured to the very best high quality requirements.
BMW can also be adopting a “local-for-local” technique, with 5 new Gen6 battery vegetation deliberate throughout Europe, North America, and China. This method 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, lowering reliance on newly mined supplies.
A Leap for BMW and Electrical Mobility
Strolling via Landshut, it turned clear that BMW’s Gen6 battery system is greater than an incremental improve—it’s a whole reinvention of how electrical automobiles are designed and constructed.
With larger 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.
