Prototype: Not Available Until 2030
BMW is making remarkable moves in the solid-state battery sector for upcoming electric motor vehicles, however even with the car company’s greatest initiatives, they will not be out until 2030. This jibes with recent updates from Toyota who will roll out manufacturing of these cutting-edge cells by 2027 but will not be able to elevate production until after.
This statement was made by Kurt Vandeputte, the leader of the BMW Battery Cell Production Expertise Center. The update was announced to the public through an article distributed by BMWBlog.
“It looks like we won’t be seeing a production series of BMWs with solid-state batteries before 2030,” declared Vandeputte. The executive went on to explain that the technology is still in its early stages, and it would take a significant amount of time before it becomes feasible to implement it in mass-produced vehicles. He added that even if the technology is ready, there are still other factors to consider, such as safety, cost, and durability.
The automobile manufacturer is currently working on a model prototype, which has also been concocted in their Cell Manufacturing Competence Center. This reveals that the Bavarian firm is quite invested in constructing advanced battery technology.
Solid-state cells present better efficiency than their lithium-ion counterparts, featuring a greater energy density. Additionally, these are much safer due to the solid electrolytes being used which minimize the chances of leakage or any potential fire hazards.
In the past month, BMW gained ahold of initial prototypes of solid-state batteries from Solid Power, a firm the carmaker has a partnership with. This provides an indication that the Neue Klasse series of electric vehicles would be offered in 2025. Despite this, it appears that the first models of the Neue Klasse EVs will likely be unveiled without the usage of the cutting-edge battery technology.
Nevertheless, there are still other ways to look into, like the dual-chemistry design of the battery that allowed a BMW iX to attain up to 600 miles of range on one charge.
From the outset, BMW was always readying to play it safe with the Neue Klasse platform. Apart from advanced solid-state batteries, space had been allocated for regular lithium-ion ones and the platform was also designed to integrate hydrogen fuel cells. The forthcoming BMW iX3 will mark the first instance of Neue Klasse being put to use in an actual manufactured BMW vehicle.
Long-touted solid-state batteries have been hailed as the real game-changer in terms of electric movement, yet it appears that we still have much progress to make before it’s inexpensive enough for conventional vehicles. Nevertheless, other routes are being examined, meaning that there is no doubt EVs are increasingly efficient – regardless of which philosophy you hold!
