- BMW revealed that its next-generation EV will be able to drive at least 373 miles on a full charge.
- The first Neue Klasse EVs will roll off the production line in Hungary later this year.
- Depending on the model, BMW will offer one, two, three or four electric motors.
BMW has been working on its next generation of electric vehicles for several years and has always claimed that the improvements will be substantial. Well, now we have some tangible figures, and they’re impressive.
First, let’s talk about range. According to BMWBlog, which attended a workshop at the Bavarian automaker’s Battery Cell Manufacturing Competency Center in Parsdorf, Germany, the upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicles will be able to drive at least 373 miles (600 kilometers) on a full charge, with some models capable of up to 570 miles (900 km) between chargers. That’s lower than the 620 miles announced in 2022, but it’s still newsworthy.
In fact, it’s on par with comparable gas-powered vehicles, and it practically puts an end to range anxiety as we know it. The company didn’t say which models would benefit from the longest driving range, but with a home charger and comprehensive DC fast charging infrastructure, even 370 miles would be more than enough for most drivers.
What’s more, when you need to plug into a fast charger, BMW said you’ll spend up to 30% less time replenishing the battery, compared to its current crop of EVs, so you’ll be on your way faster. That’s courtesy of the company’s new cylindrical cells–so we’re not talking about solid-state batteries here–and the comprehensive list of efficiency improvements, including the use of silicon carbide semiconductors and weight reduction.
BMW said the 800V battery system will be used in all the upcoming Neue Klasse EVs, starting with the next-generation iX3 later this year, as well as EVs based on other architectures.
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As for power, the German company’s next crop of battery-powered cars will be set in motion by either one, two, three or four electric motors. This doesn’t mean that your bog-standard crossover will be quad-motor, but the next-gen M3 might be. Furthermore, it goes to show that BMW has really thought this through, with multiple configurations on the table for every possible combination.
Cars fitted with the Gen6 drive system will have either one or two electrically excited synchronous motors (EESM) fitted above the rear axle in a compact housing that incorporates the drive unit, power electronics and transmission. On the front axle, BMW will use asynchronous motors (ASM).
