BMW seems extremely assured about its newest technology of battery cells because it claims that “Tesla wants to shut the hole” with them.
The electrical automobile revolution begins with batteries, and Tesla has been considered having an edge on that entrance, because of its early investments into battery manufacturing with Panasonic.
Nonetheless, another automakers have since adopted and have began to shut the hole with their very own investments.
BMW believes that it has closed the hole. The automaker is getting ready to launch its sixth technology battery cell developed in-house by the BMW Group Cell Manufacturing Competence Middle in Parsdorf, Germany. BMW claims a number of enhancements with these cells:
- New greater format: 46 mm by 95 mm or 120 mm relying on the model
- 20% improve in power density
- 60% decrease production-related carbon emissions
- They declare 30% extra vary and as much as 500-mile (~800-km) EVs, however that’s on the battery pack degree – not simply as a result of cells
BMW Group manufacturing head, Milan Nedeljkovic, claims that the efficiency surpasses Tesla’s (by way of Auto Information):
Tesla wants to shut the hole with us. Actually, we don’t see a spot to Tesla… What we’ve got here’s a battery design that fits our merchandise, and our concept of how driving efficiency is fulfilled in our automobiles.
The brand new cell is predicated on a format first unveiled by Tesla in 2020, the 4680, which was an enormous step ahead for cylindrical cells, however BMW has now made it even greater.
BMW is creating the manufacturing course of for the brand new cell in Germany, however it plans to associate with CATL for the amount manufacturing.
Nedeljkovic had an fascinating analogy in regards to the course of:
If you wish to prepare dinner one thing very nice you want recipe, and the recipe determines the style. We develop the recipe, particularly the chemistry and physics of a cell. We alter the content material and take a look at how every single cell ingredient will affect efficiency. As the following step, that you must discover a manufacturing course of that matches your recipe. That’s why we’ve got this manufacturing facility right here in Parsdorf to be sure that the dish tastes nearly as good because it ought to.
Whereas all that discuss reveals confidence, the sixth-gen BMW batteries usually are not going to make their manner into new EVs till 2025.
Electrek’s Take
I feel that is largely all discuss. There’s an opportunity that BMW really reverse-engineered Tesla’s 4680 and really believes that they’ve an edge, however, in some way, I doubt it.
The reality is that Tesla continues to be bettering its 4680 cell, and it’s nonetheless nowhere close to the place it must be to match the extent introduced at Battery Day.
Additionally, it’s necessary to notice that a very powerful issue for mass-market autos is the price of these battery cells in quantity manufacturing.
Clearly, BMW doesn’t have that but since it’s nonetheless two years away. We’re going to have to attend till then to see if the claims maintain.
Within the meantime, I’m completely satisfied to see the pleasant competitors with Tesla on the battery entrance from a significant legacy automaker.