BMW's 6th-gen battery is to be a game changer
March 01 2023,
Not many people know this, but almost 40% of the BMW i4's cost lies in its battery. This is a staggering number and explains why most EVs are more expensive than plug-in hybrids or hybrids. BMW has set out on a mission to reduce battery costs and will introduce new technology for its sixth-generation battery.
The new technology will see almost a 50% reduction in battery cost as compared to the fifth-gen one. Let's take a look at what this new technology entails and how it can benefit drivers. Let's also look at how the new technology is different from the one used today in BMW cars.
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What's New?
The new round cells are bottom-vented and this will help reduce the charge time by almost 30%. With the new 800-volt architecture, your vehicle will now reach 80% charging in no time. The energy density will also rise by 20%, and the driving range will also increase by 30%.
This is a win-win situation and promises an exciting time for drivers and BMW. It's also exciting for people who want to believe in EVs but lack trust due to limitations or cost restraints.
Battery Specifications
The new sixth-gen battery will come in two distinct sizes. While both have the same width (46 mm), their height is different. The tall 120 mm cells are ideal for SUVs, while the shorter 95 mm cells are perfect for sedans.
Another major change is how the cells are loaded into the housing pack. With the current battery pack, prismatic large oblong cells were loaded into modules. These modules were then loaded into the housing packs. In the new setup, round cells are individually mounted into the pack.
This improves packaging efficiency by almost 30%. The module also reduces the weight, material and cost that is associated with the current battery system. This also explains how the new battery can produce almost 60% lesser CO2 during production, thereby benefitting the environment.
When Can We Expect It?
The new battery is expected to feature along with the new class platform. The current platform for BMWs supports gas, diesel, EVs, and PHEVs. The new class that will be rolled out in 2025 will have a dedicated EV platform. A successful rollout of the new platform and the battery is the key if BMW wants to achieve its goals.
In 2023, BMW is also expected to add one fully-electric vehicle to its lineup and plans to have more than 2 million EVs on roads by 2025. The company also envisions almost half of its global sales to be completely electric by 2030.
Final Thought
BMW is expected to roll out all-solid batteries by 2030, and the company claims that this will improve energy density by almost 20%. BMW also plans to have a demonstration vehicle with the all-solid-state tech by 2025.
