BMW "From 2025, Using High-Efficiency and Eco-Friendly Batteries... Will Also Build Cell Factory"

The new BMW 7 Series to be released domestically in the second half of this year

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] BMW Group announced on the 15th through BMW Korea that it will equip its next-generation electric vehicles, set to be released from 2025, with new cylindrical battery cells.

Last year, the company unveiled a mid- to long-term new product development plan that included electrification and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. Accordingly, the lineup of fully electric vehicles to be launched from 2025 was named ‘New Class.’ Regarding batteries, a core component of electric vehicles, the company revealed recent technological development achievements and plans to manufacture them in an environmentally friendly manner going forward.

The most notable feature of the newly developed BMW 6th generation battery is its cylindrical shape. Except for Tesla, this type is not widely used by other electric vehicle manufacturers. Cylindrical batteries have been consistently used in the past, ensuring safety, but they have been criticized for having lower capacity and relatively poor space utilization. BMW has also primarily adopted prismatic batteries, with Samsung SDI as its main battery supplier.

The newly developed cylindrical battery cell by the company has a diameter of 46 mm and comes in two different heights. Along with the shape, changes in raw material ratios and chemical structure improve performance. Compared to the 5th generation prismatic battery cells currently in use, energy density increases by more than 20%, and driving range extends by up to 30% (based on WLTP standards).

Next-generation cylindrical battery cell newly developed by BMW

Performance was enhanced by reducing the cobalt content in the battery cathode while increasing the amount of nickel. The anode material will have an increased silicon content. The battery cell price is expected to be up to 50% lower than that of the existing 5th generation. The voltage of the battery, drivetrain, and charging technology will be increased to 800V. This allows for a maximum current of 500 A, reducing the charging time from 10% to 80% by up to 30%.

The plan to procure batteries in an environmentally friendly way has also been concretized. While refining battery performance, the company will expand measures to recycle and reuse raw materials and products previously used. Key raw materials for high-voltage batteries, including cobalt, lithium, and nickel, will be used as secondary raw materials above a certain standard. Frank Weber, BMW Group’s Head of Technical Development, stated, "It is possible to reduce carbon dioxide emissions during cell production by up to 60%."

To supply battery cells for next-generation electric vehicles, BMW recently signed contracts worth hundreds of billions of euros with battery manufacturers. Additionally, the company plans to build battery cell factories with an annual production capacity of 20GWh in six key global markets including China, Europe, and North America.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.