[carthick1000]

BMW's have been using the prismatic type cells in all their electric models until now. But this might change with their new all electric platform coming in 2025 - 'Neue Klasse' (New class). This will most likely be using CATL's cylindrical type cells. Tesla has been using 18650 type cylindrical cells for it's model S and later 2170 type cells for model 3 and recently 4680 cells for model Y.

BMW Prismatic



Tesla Cylindrical

The names of cells come from the cell dimensions.




InsideEV says:

CATL will be supplying BMW with cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells for electric vehicles, starting from 2025.

This interesting news was announced by CATL (via Reuters), which has confirmed the signing of an agreement with BMW, but without elaborating on it. We guess that details will be announced later by BMW itself.

"Chinese battery giant CATL on Friday said it will start supplying cylindrical cells to BMW from 2025 to power its new series of electric vehicles.

The battery maker has signed an agreement with BMW in which it is nominated as the supplier of the cylindrical cells for the German carmaker..."

Nonetheless, it's pretty surprising considering that the German manufacturer so far was relying on prismatic cell format and that it's also the main type produced by CATL.

If the switch from the prismatic to cylindrical cell format at scale is true, then there must be a serious reason behind it.

Earlier this month, we heard a rumor that BMW is going to use cylindrical battery cells in its next-generation platform “Neue Klasse”, as this type of battery has the potential to lower battery system cost by as much as 30% (compared to prismatic format). Bloomberg's report at the time was based on unofficial input from "people familiar with the plans."

The list of BMW Group's battery cell suppliers includes Samsung SDI, CATL, as well as EVE Energy and Northvolt. According to the rumor, BMW would like to source cylindrical battery cells from existing partners.

The word "cylindrical" is crucial but does not say what exact format is on the table. Tesla recently launched in-house production of the 4680-type cylindrical cell, which is a step up from the 2170-type and previous 1865-type.

BloombergNEF notes that in 2021, carmakers paid an average $118 per kWh of battery, on the pack level, and the battery cells typically make up four-fifths of the price of a battery system cost.

Due to a substantial increase in battery materials costs, manufacturers are looking at how to bring the costs down. The Bloomberg report suggests that the switch to the cylindrical cell format would help to lower costs. Well, only time will tell, but Tesla's high operating margins might be another indicator of that.

Reuters says:

SHANGHAI, May 27 (Reuters) - Chinese battery giant CATL (300750.SZ) on Friday said it will start supplying cylindrical cells to BMW (BMWG.DE) from 2025 to power its new series of electric vehicles.

The battery maker has signed an agreement with BMW in which it is nominated as the supplier of the cylindrical cells for the German carmaker, CATL said without elaborating.

BMW declined to comment.

CATL has been supplying BMW for a decade. The Chinese firm is looking at potential battery factory sites in the United States to supply carmakers including BMW, with a goal of production beginning in 2026, Reuters reported earlier. read more

BMW will launch a dedicated electric platform by 2025. The German carmaker said its upcoming products will upend the perception the German carmaker is behind on electrification and make its stock compete with the likes of Tesla Inc (TSLA.O).

It marks a rare move by CATL, which has been supplying most of its auto clients including Tesla with square cells.

Tesla recently started manufacturing its 4680 lithium-ion batteries, a cylindrical cell with 46-millimeter diameter and 80-millimeter length that can hold about five times the energy of its current smaller 2170 cells.

This is good news as BMW sees potential in cylindrical cells, as it improves their profit margin, while staying competitive. As consumers, we get much better longevity and still can enjoy BMWs in the future. Only downside is Tesla still has a headstart in using cylindrical cells. But still, BMW will be the first German OEM to adapt them leaving Mercs and VAGs behind. BMW seems to understand this old adage: You have to be only faster than the slowest runner to save yourself.

Trivia:

The name Neue Klasse comes from their 1961 BMW 1800 & 2000 models which were part of then Neue Klasse. It defined a new era for BMWs and in 2025, it is sort of history repeating itself. You can learn about it in this podcast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx2R_GpihHw

and BMW's classic channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cACRn46EIAA

[volkman10]

BMW announces a completely new Head-Up Display for the "Neue Klasse".

As part of CES 2023, BMW AG Chairman of the Board of Management Oliver Zipse announced a new generation of Head-Up Display for the "Neue Klasse" in his opening speech.

"It's more than a vision. We bring this innovation to the "Neue Klasse". As early as 2025, our customers will be able to enjoy this completely new technology in their vehicles," said Oliver Zipse at CES 2023 in Las Vegas.

[carthick1000]

A Spanish design company Avarvarii has rendered the 2025 Neue Klasse designs and it looks pretty smart. They used the design lines of i Vision DEE concept and predicted how the production version will look like. In the past their predictions were pretty good and sometimes spot on.

[volkman10]

BMW will present on September 2 a new concept that will advance the design language of some of its models.

[volkman10]

Teaser to the concept:

https://youtu.be/-FBhmmT9pIs

[volkman10]

New Teaser :

[volkman10]

Vision Neue Klasse will redefine BMW as it transitions into the electric era.

The technology contained within is what will define BMW’s next-generation driving experience.

With the company facing an equally big challenge as it transitions from the gasoline/hybrid era and into an all-electric future, Neue Klasse is the rallying cry once again. At this point, the corporate plan calls for 25 per cent of all sales to be electrified by 2025 and 50 per cent by 2030.

Much of the technology showcased in the Vision Neue Klasse concept will go into the first of the production vehicles — an X3-like crossover is slated to arrive in 2025 along with a 3 Series-sized sedan. Moving forward, BMW has said it will spin six different vehicles off the Neue Klasse platform over the 24 months following the initial launch.

According to BMW, in everyday driving 25 per cent of the battery’s energy is used to drive the vehicle; 32 per cent of the power consumption battles aerodynamic drag. Switch to a longer, highway trip and the drag consumption rises to a staggering 60 per cent; the rolling resistance from the tires consumes another 21 per cent! Reducing these parasitic losses increases range dramatically!

BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive powertrain features new batteries, next-gen electric motors and a new 800-volt architecture that’s capable of putting 300-kilometres of charge into the battery in 10 minutes when it’s hooked up to the right DC fast charger. That’s a 30 per cent improvement over BMW’s current range of EVs.

The prismatic battery cells used today, which are oblong is shape, will be replaced by the new sixth-generation round D-like battery cells. These bottom-vented cells will be adapted according to use. The new cells are 46-millimetres in diameter, but differ in height — they are 95-millimetres tall for sedans and 120-mm tall for crossovers, which have more ground clearance.


These new batteries have a lot of important plusses. The cost is reduced by 50 per cent, the packaging is 30 per cent more efficient and they have a 20 per cent improvement in energy density. For the consumer, the most important number is found in the 30 per cent increase in driving range.

So far, all of this is good news. The better news is the next-gen electric motors are 40 per cent more efficient than the outgoing units. There will be one and two motor setups with different outputs based on vehicle size and usage. One persistent rumor says there will be up to 1,341 horsepower! If you are picturing an outrageous M-branded EV, you are not alone!

The other intriguing part is BMW has not ruled out a hydrogen-powered fuel cell version based on the Neue Klasse platform. The structure was designed so the hydrogen tanks that feed the fuel cell slot neatly into the space normally reserved for the battery

Neue Klasse will redefine BMW as it transitions into the electric era. Some of Neue Klasse concept cars have been out there in terms of style and presentation, but the technology contained within is what will define BMW’s next-generation driving experience — all-new batteries working with powerful yet efficient electric motors is a very promising start. At this point, nothing has been said about driving range, although a number frequently cited is “up to 1,000-km.”

Link