BMW: ‘We don’t see a gap to Tesla’
Next-generation EV batteries will see Tesla playing catch-up to BMW, not the other way around, says German brandBMW says it will finally overtake Tesla with its battery technology when it launches its first Neue Klasse vehicle in 2025.
“Tesla needs to close the gap with us. In fact, we don’t see a gap to Tesla,” BMW Group production boss Milan Nedeljkovic told Automotive News.
Nedeljkovic was referencing BMW’s Gen 6 batteries that are tipped to be introduced on the 2025 BMW iX3 SUV, which will also be based on the Neue Klasse architecture.
BMW has already released the first tentative details on its new powerpacks, where the cells are cylindrical and have a chemistry that provides 20 per cent higher energy density than today’s tech.
This will lead to a range that will be enhanced by around 30 per cent to more than 800km, while charging speeds increase by 30 per cent to around 270kW.
Crucially, the carbon emissions emitted during their production is around 60 per cent less than today’s batteries, while the costs involved with their production will be halved.
BMW says the new battery cells have a 46mm diameter and will come in two heights – one that stands 85mm tall and the other 120mm. That will make both battery packs taller than Tesla’s own 4680-type cells that are 46mm in diameter but just 80mm tall.
“What we have here is a battery design that suits our products, and our idea of how driving performance is fulfilled in our cars,” Nedeljkovic recently announced at a press conference.
Despite the new EVs still being two years away, BMW has already begun small-scale battery production at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) in Parsdorf, Germany, to test their durability and help develop its next-gen Neue Klasse model line-up.
The new cylinder cells will eventually be offered in six Neue Klasse models by 2028, with the iX3 followed soon after by the i3 sedan.
Some of the cars rumoured to be powered by the new batteries also include the i3 Touring and the iX4 SUV-coupe as well as next-gen EVs developed by BMW M.
Once ready for production the new state-of-the-art batteries will be built at facilities in Europe, China and North America.
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