Translation
At the auto show, I went to see the BMW INEXT. From the design and appearance perspective, INEXT doesn’t seem to be as different as expected. I-Next also uses a carbon fiber cage-type structure similar to that of the I3. In terms of technical specifications, the overall battery system is 100 kWh, and the highest peak charging power is configured at 200 kW. As this platform is not a proprietary platform, according to the performance suggested by the iX3, it is uncertain how far the i-Next can go. However, based on the information released by BMW and the Korean media, the following points can be observed:
1) In the sixth generation battery system, BMW will use a design different from the previous shell, i.e., by using cylindrical cells.
2) BMW will start trying solid-state batteries in 2025 and plan to double the energy density of the battery in five years to put solid-state batteries into mass production.
1) The Design of the Sixth Generation Battery
According to the report from the Korean media outlet, TheElec, BMW is developing a new cylindrical battery together with Samsung SDI.
When the development of the new battery is completed, it will be produced in Samsung SDI’s factory in Goed, Hungary. Moreover, BMW has proposed that the two companies will also review the establishment of a joint battery enterprise. Here are some key pieces of information:
1) The use of cylindrical cells may make it possible for the battery pack to complete the work of arranging the cells directly. Therefore, the joint venture of battery manufacturing is becoming more important. BMW is exploring the production of cylindrical cells in the form of a joint venture in addition to investing in Northvolt.
2) The cylindrical battery has increased the difficulty of development, but is limited by considerations of production efficiency and cost.
3) Unlike the shell-type battery, BMW considers that cylindrical ones may configure different battery packs on the same dedicated platform to adapt to the market, which is a different attempt after years of upholding the shell-type route.
According to another Korean media outlet, BMW has also been in contact with LG Chem during this process.
2) What Triggered BMW’s ChangesAccording to BMW’s trajectory, this change may be the conclusion derived from BMW’s Battery Cell Center research in July 2020. The company received a funding of 60 million euros from the German state and federal government for battery research. According to CEO Oliver Zipse, BMW is currently evaluating different battery encapsulations, battery chemical compositions, and battery modules for the sixth generation of electric vehicle technology. The cost of the sixth generation of electric vehicles should be reduced to the level of traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.
The energy density of the seventh generation battery should be increased by at least 50% and implemented through solid-state batteries. Frank Weber of BMW stated that the company plans to produce the prototype of a solid-state battery powered vehicle by 2025 and achieve mass production of solid-state battery BEVs by 2030.
After reviewing BMW’s situation, it appears that their battery research is mainly focused on two battery IPCEI frameworks. BMW is developing battery systems and looking into next-generation lithium-ion batteries to verify All Solid State Batteries (ASSB) technology.
Note: The experimental factory in 2022 is mainly intended for improving battery cell production efficiency.
Conclusion
In fact, BMW did not have many stories to tell at the motor show about electrification, it has been focused on PHEV in Europe. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to how the company will design the exclusive platform and next-generation for BEVs.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.