After previewing a few of the know-how on its “Neue Klasse” EV platform at CES final week, BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse just isn’t mixing phrases when talking concerning the German automaker’s future within the EV market. Zipse was as daring to say that BMW’s subsequent wave of EVs would be the business benchmark in vary, charging speeds, and pricing. Forgive us in case you’ve heard this one earlier than.
It’s been over three years since BMW launched its first full wave of EVs and ten years for the reason that debut of its first all-electric mannequin, the eminent (for higher or worse) i3 hatchback. Following early adoption of that ultra-compact car, the German automaker’s quest to go all-electric really started with the iX3 SUV – the primary of 13 EV anticipated to reach by this 12 months.
On the time, BMW was making some daring claims concerning the iX3 and its general EV know-how, offering extra vary, energy, and cargo house than a majority of the opposite rivals on the street on the time.
As we’re certain you’re fairly conscious, lots of these rivals have debuted benchmark know-how of their very own, and though BMW has continued to roll out an increasing number of EV fashions just like the i4 sedan and kidney bean-heavy iX, it has not but dominated the market as deliberate.
Amongst German EV automakers alone, BMW’s EV gross sales had been center of the pack in 2022 when in comparison with VW Group (together with Audi) and Mercedes-Benz. Nothing to scoff at, however room for enchancment nonetheless.
The place BMW believes it has improved is within the EV platform know-how its subsequent wave of all-electric fashions will sit atop, which lately made its debut at CES contained in the i Imaginative and prescient Dee idea seen under.
BMW’s Neue Klasse EV platform sounds promising on paper
Whereas this primary style of BMW’s Neue Klasse (“new class”) structure exists inside an idea EV that can greater than possible by no means see an meeting line, the capabilities it represents are ample sufficient to depart BMW’s CEO Oliver Zipse feeling quite emboldened. He shared the next sentiment with journalists in Las Vegas following the reveal of the i Imaginative and prescient Dee idea:
We would be the benchmark when it comes to vary, charging velocity and pricing. Don’t neglect pricing.
Love the boldness, however as they are saying, “present, don’t inform.”
A key issue within the success of this new BMW structure shall be its battery know-how, an space of the EV business the German automaker has invested closely in, in recent times. BMW has already shared that the brand new platform will embody new cylindrical cells which might be anticipated to enhance power density, charging speeds, and general vary by 20-30% % in comparison with its present battery tech.
This know-how itself seems to be a lot of the reasoning behind Zipse’s “benchmark” feedback, however the BMW CEO has promised different EV battery initiatives within the works as effectively. For example, we reported in December that BMW had dedicated $20 million to long-time accomplice Stable Energy to license its solid-state battery know-how and implement meeting strains at its personal manufacturing services.
Stable Energy’s power dense cells haven’t reached scalability or value parity with lithium-ion cells, however BMW intends to proceed growth abroad alongside the Colorado-based battery developer to assist attain that wanted epoch for EV battery breakthroughs.
If profitable, BMW would possibly be capable of ship on Zipse’s promising of setting the usual in key EV specs for shoppers. Nonetheless, there are many different rivals additionally invested in Stable Energy and different solid-state battery builders seeking to do it first – or on the very least, do it higher.
The primary BMW EV on the Neue Klasse platform is anticipated to reach someday in 2025 and shall be a midsize sedan inbuilt Hungary. You’ll be able to watch the introduction of the i Imaginative and prescient Dee idea and get a preview of BMW’s upcoming EV tech within the video under:
