BMW is ready for the big leap. By the end of the year, it will present the first electric car based on the Neue Klasse platform. As the name suggests, it will introduce new technologies and set new standards in terms of efficiency and performance.
A few months after the launch, the Munich-based company is starting to reveal the technical solutions that will characterize this entire future range of vehicles. At a Tech Day presentation held in the Landshut plant—a factory located on the outskirts of Munich that produces components of all sorts for factories all over the world—BMW told us a lot about motors and batteries. Let’s start with the latter.
BMW’s Battery Boom
Speaking of big leaps, the importance of BMW’s decision to move from prismatic cells to cylindrical cells for the Neue Klasse cars cannot be overstated.
First of all, BMW confirmed that the batteries will use two formats, both of generous dimensions. On sedans and sports cars, the company will choose 4695 cells (46mm in diameter and 95mm in height), for thinner battery packs. For SUVs and larger cars, however, BMW will use 46120 cells, with a height of 120mm.
Photo by: BMW
Batteria ad alta tensione della BMW Neue Klasse
Regardless of the format, the new cells will be used to make batteries with internal cell-to-pack architecture. Compared to current batteries, which have intermediate modules, this solution allows for weight savings and, at the same time, increases energy density. Let’s give some numbers.
More Performance, Lower Costs
The adoption of the new batteries will allow the Neue Klasse cars to increase overall efficiency by a significant 20% and to have an average of 30% more range. Not only that, the new accumulators will allow their charging speeds to be 30% faster.
While we are still waiting to hear what this means in terms of actual kW charging speeds, BMW says that with a stop at the charging station of just 10 minutes, you can gain up to 186 miles (300 km) of travel.
BMW Vision Neue Klasse: la concept del 2023 che mostra stile e tecnologia dei nuovi modelli elettrici
Performance wasn’t the only consideration here. BMW’s three centers dedicated specifically to batteries— is one that studies cells, one that studies processes and one that deals with recycling—put a huge emphasis on sustainability.
Their efforts should greatly reduce the components involved and cut costs by as much as 50%, while also reducing the amount of CO2 emitted during the production phase. Here are the gains BMW is quoting:
- Efficiency: +20%
- Autonomy: +30%
- Reload speed: +30%
- Production costs: -50%
Meet The ‘Energy Master’
To improve efficiency, all Neue Klasse cars, which are the first true software-defined cars from the company, will adopt a new module for power electronics. It’s called BMW Energy Master. In a single block, it controls the transition from 400 to 800 volts, the cooling system, the power supply for the on-board electrical system and the actual control unit.
Designed and built in-house, the Energy Master also features a host of diagnostic services that monitor charge status, health, safety, and temperature management. Attached to the battery, but external to it (located in the rear seats) to make maintenance and repairs easier.
Photo by: BMW
BMW Energy Master, raccoglie tutta l’elettronica di potenza
The Energy Master will initially be used on the BMW-branded Neue Klasse cars, but in the future, they could also be adopted by MINI models such as Rolls-Royce. For this reason, the company has created extremely flexible products: to make them suitable for different types of cars. The batteries, for example, in the future could also receive cells with different chemistries than the one currently chosen.
Two Axles, Two Motor Types
BMW is also set to offer two types of electric motors on the Neue Klasse. The new architecture is designed to have both two-wheel drive models (with rear-wheel drive) and all-wheel drive models.
At the rear, BMW is using EESM electric motors (externally excited synchronous motor), while at the front, it mounts ASM-type motors (asynchronous permanent magnet motors).
This will be the case for all of the electric cars based on the new platform, which will have one, two, three or even four motors. This solution will allow incredibly high levels of power and torque to be achieved and will give a great deal of freedom in managing traction, being able to directly control the delivery on each individual wheel.
Photo by: BMW
Il motore EEMS del retrorteno
Photo by: BMW
Il motore ASM dell’avantreno
The rear motors, which are still effectively “single-speed”, are also equipped with a mechanical system capable of changing the transmission ratio based on the speed at which you are traveling. This allows you to always operate in an optimal range of speeds. Here too, in addition to an improvement in terms of power output, the new engines guarantee better performance in terms of efficiency:
- – 40% losses
- – 20% production costs
- – 10% weight
Production Set To Start This Summer
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X SUV Concept
The first car in the Neue Klasse family will go into production in August and will be presented, as mentioned, by the end of the year. It will be an electric SUV of the same size as the current X3. It will be followed, in 2026, by an electric sedan in the vein of the 3 Series.
Between now and this summer, BMW will delve into other technical areas of this innovative platform that is also equipped with bidirectional charging, supercomputers that the entire infotainment and driving assistance system and other advanced features. Stay tuned, in other words—BMW has more cooking on the future front.
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