BMW has been slowly dropping breadcrumbs about its upcoming Neue Klasse range of electric vehicles (EV) over the last several weeks, and the latest teaser reveals nifty range-extending battery tech.
At an event in the German town of Landshut, which is home to the company's largest component plant, BMW announced that it's developing its sixth-generation BMW eDrive technology (Gen6 for short), and that includes 800-V batteries designed in-house with promising new figures.
The high-voltage batteries are said to offer 30% faster charging, as well as 30% greater range than BMW's Gen5 models. Unlike the prismatic cells in the previous batteries, the new ones are cylindrical, and are said to be 20% more energy dense. They'll also lose 40% less energy than Gen5 units, and weigh 10% less.
The new batteries will also support bidirectional charging, which means your car could power appliances and even your house for a bit. BMW says it's designed them to be slimmer so they can fit into a wide range of upcoming EVs from the marque, and they'll act as a structural component in all Neue Klasse cars.
The company explained that it's developed the central control unit that sits atop the battery (dubbed BMW Energy Master) in-house, so it will be in a position to deliver performance updates for the unit over-the-air.
BMW is certainly keen on getting folks hyped for its next chapter. Between a radical new design language, more immersive cabin features, and a custom ECU for an engaging driving experience not common in EVs, it's got a lot cooking with the Neue Klasse range.
The company is slated to launch a SUV first in this lineup, followed by a saloon. We'll have to wait until later this year when the iX3 replacement arrives to see if that all adds up to an EV you'll want to drive.
Source: BMW Group
