BMW revealed its upcoming Neue Klasse platform will deliver significant cost savings and what it calls a technological “quantum leap” for its electric vehicle lineup.
The Bavarian automaker has shared new details about the sixth-generation battery and motor systems that will power its next generation of EVs.
The all-new 800V architecture, dubbed Gen6, will debut in the new iX3 launching later this year and will underpin all future BMW electric vehicles — including those from its M Division performance arm.
According to BMW, the new platform will offer up to 30% more range from its batteries while allowing for a 30% increase in charging speeds, plus bidirectional charging capabilities. An i4 currently delivers up to 359 miles of range and charging at 205kW, suggesting the next-generation 3 Series could achieve around 477 miles of range with charging speeds approaching 275kW.
The improvements come from all-new nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries using cylindrical cell construction with 20% better energy density than previous designs. These batteries integrate with the vehicles using cell-to-pack and pack-to-body construction, reducing components and weight while making the battery a structural part of the car.
These new cells are slimmer than the Gen5 system, allowing Neue Klasse cars to have lower floor heights than their predecessors. The battery design also makes them suitable for performance applications.
Neue Klasse cars will continue using a rear-mounted electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) as their main drive unit, though these motors are lighter, quieter and more efficient than current versions.
For the first time, BMW will incorporate asynchronous motors (ASM) on the front axle of xDrive models. These smaller, less expensive motors will enable BMW to offer two-, three- or even four-motor configurations depending on the model.
The combined motor improvements reduce energy losses by 40%, costs by 20%, and weight by 10% compared to current-generation vehicles. BMW estimates Neue Klasse cars will be at least 20% more efficient than their Gen5 predecessors.
All battery and drive components will be managed by a new “BMW Energy Master” control unit — the first such system developed and built entirely in-house by the company.
On-road testing of the new architecture is already underway with prototypes built at the Debrecen factory in Hungary. Full production of the iX3 will begin there in the coming months before expanding to other Neue Klasse models at factories worldwide.
As part of what BMW calls a “local for local” approach, high-voltage batteries will be manufactured in five locations globally. Factories in Germany, Hungary, China, Mexico and the United States will supply batteries for vehicles produced in their regions, reducing environmental impact and protecting production against supply chain disruptions.
“For the BMW Group, electric mobility is the future and a key area of growth,” said BMW board member Dr. Joachim Post. “We are leading the way with this drivetrain technology. At the same time, we are deliberately taking a technology-open approach, recognizing that mobility needs vary between different regions of the world.”
