German automotive giant BMW may have gained extreme popularity as a petrol and diesel engine luxury vehicle and motorcycle maker, but its efforts in EV tech reflect its ambition to dominate this field as well.
As it happens, the BMW Group has presented its work on the development and production of high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems using the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology at the Tech Days event in Landshut, Germany, according to the company’s press release on February 21.
The car-making behemoth plans to introduce the new sixth-generation (Gen6) eDrive technology in its fully electric Neue Klasse vehicles and expects to begin their series production later this year at Plant Debrecen in Hungary.
BMW’s EV tech specs
Specifically, the Gen6’s improvements include a 30% faster charging speed, a 30% increase in range (with certain models going even further), as well as the 800V battery concept. The high-voltage battery, which will support bidirectional charging, was developed by the BMW Group and is produced at Plan Landshut.
Alongside the BMW cylindrical cell with a 20% greater energy density than its predecessor (the Gen5 prismatic battery cell), this battery concept aims to bring about significant advancements in energy density, charging speed, and range, and will accompany different electric motor types: SSM and ASM, employing a modular approach to electric motor production.
Innovations also include the central control unit, the BMW Energy Master, which encompasses all of the above elements and rests on the high-voltage battery, providing the interface for high- and low-voltage power supply, as well as for data from the high-voltage battery.
Additionally, it controls the power supply for the electric motor and vehicle electrical system, ensuring the safe and intelligent operation of the high-voltage battery.
Finally, the in-house development of Energy Master’s hardware and software facilitates independent implementation of tech developments in real-time via Remote Software Upgrades.
Future is electric
Commenting on his company’s developments, Dr. Joachim Post, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Purchasing and Supplier Network, explained:
“For the BMW Group, electric mobility is the future and a key area of growth. We are leading the way with this drivetrain technology. At the same time, we are deliberately taking a technology-open approach, recognizing that mobility needs vary between different regions of the world. (…) We want to offer our customers the best drive concept for every need. It is possible to do both: offer the best drive technology for every need and be at the forefront of electric mobility.”
In the meantime, the BMW Group has filed multiple new patent applications for its vehicle electrical system, including the electronic fuses.
Late last year, BMW also started work on automotive health – an emerging field of research to enhance the safety and health of car owners, as well as passengers, using AI and specialized sensors that analyze users’ health and detect cardiovascular risks like heart attacks and strokes for early intervention.
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