Zipse assured participants that the new concept car is remarkably close to standard production, making it a reliable indicator of what we can expect in 2025. BMW plans to commence production of the first models on the NE architecture in 2025 at the newly established Debrecen plant in Hungary. Subsequently, Munich and Shanghai will follow suit a year later. Additionally, the luxury brand has already confirmed its intentions to assemble NE-based vehicles in San Luis Potosi and Spartanburg in the latter half of the decade.

BMW is taking the lead with its new lineup of electric vehicles, which will include a sedan and a crossover in the 3 Series segment. These vehicles, akin to a globally available i3 (currently exclusive to China) and the next-generation iX3, will be powered by cylindrical batteries that promise impressive improvements. Specifically, they will deliver a 20% increase in energy density while reducing weight by 20%.

BMW’s sixth-generation battery technology is set to revolutionize the EV market with its numerous advantages. Notably, it will offer 30% faster charging speeds, 50% lower production costs, and an impressive 60% reduction in CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.

To cater to different vehicle types, BMW is developing two battery sizes. SUVs will be equipped with 120-mm tall cells, while smaller vehicles will feature 95-mm cells. Both battery types will substantially increase the range compared to the current generation of EVs, with an expected improvement of up to 30%. However, the company has clarified that it is not planning to pursue a range of more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), as it would be excessive.

In terms of charging, the efficiency of these new batteries is remarkable. Spending just a minute at a charging station will provide an additional range of 30 miles (48 kilometers). Moreover, a mere 12 minutes of charging will be sufficient to replenish the battery from 0% to 95%. Even after a decade of use, the batteries are projected to retain 80% of their original performance, showcasing their durability and long-term viability.

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30 Percent More Electric Range

BMW promises a “huge leap in technology” as round cells will increase an EV’s range in the WLTP cycle by as much as 30% and boost charging speed by the same percentage. Neue Klasse models will support 800V tech with fast-charging capabilities allowing owners to juice up their EVs from 10% to 80% about 30 minutes quicker than on the current crop of zero-emissions models.

The automaker says that the battery cells will have a standard diameter of 46 millimeters (1.81 inches). These are being engineered in two different heights and will have less cobalt content while incorporating more nickel on the cathode side. Additional silicon content on the anode side is also planned to enhance energy density.

Furthermore, the new cell production will reduce CO2 emissions generated during cell production by 60%. An equally important target is to slash production costs by 50% compared to the current batteries. Two new battery plants are going to be built in China, with two more in Europe and another two in the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement).

In the meantime, BMW has already worked out a deal with suppliers to partially use secondary materials for the raw materials lithium, cobalt, and nickel. In addition, green power will be used during the manufacturing process to reduce the levels of CO2 generated. Contracts worth more than €10 billion have been signed for the production of round battery cells.

Source: BMW

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Thankfully, a new interview from CAR Magazine with none other than BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse sheds (some) light on how BMW is developing the new architecture. Interestingly, the Neue Klasse might not necessarily be reserved for pure electric vehicles as the company’s boss doesn’t exclude the possibility of adding a combustion engine: “At a later point in time, you might put another type of engine, combustion, on the front axle.”

In other words, the 57-year-old executive says NK-based models could combine an electric rear axle with a gasoline engine driving the front wheels to enable a hybrid setup with AWD. If that’s going to be the case, expect the combustion engine to be a small-displacement one since Neue Klasse models will have shorter front sections in order to maximize the wheelbase and create more space inside the cabin.

Oliver Zipse points out the platform will be BEV-centric and if there will be hybrids based on the Neue Klasse, these models will probably co-exist with the 3 Series for a number of years before the combustion-engined model will be discontinued. One of the first models to ride on the all-new hardware is expected to be the iX3, which was facelifted this week and will switch to the next generation later this decade.

BMW’s supremo goes on to say the Neue Klasse will see the introduction of Gen 6 batteries that will use fewer rare materials and rely more on recycled nickel. The next-gen packs will have greater energy density and improved recharging capabilities along with a modular setup, thus making them ideal for a great variety of EVs.

Oliver Zipse told CAR Magazine the NK platform will be used for at least 15 years or as much as 20 years, meaning it could be discontinued around 2045 at the latest. While solid-state batteries won’t be ready in 2025 when the architecture will be inaugurated, there’s a “very high” probability the revolutionary batteries will eventually be installed in NK-based electric cars.

You can read the full interview at the source link below.

Source: CAR Magazine

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