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BMW may be planning to switch to cylindrical battery cells in next-generation electric vehicles


BMW is tipped to switch to cylindrical cells for its next-generation EV platform around 2025.

The news comes with recent confirmations of an agreement for a potentially large-scale supply deal between Chinese battery giant CATL and BMW.

Based on Reuters source, the switch to cylindrical cells, instead of a prismatic format. BMW has consolidated its fifth-generation EV powertrain, which should offer massive cost savings – in the range of 30%.

That’s around the time BMW will debut its new dedicated electric vehicle platform, called the Neue Klasse. Earlier this month, CEO Oliver Zipse clarified that the model “will focus on the 3-Series segment”. Combined with other recent comments, it’s safe to say that BMW doesn’t see this as a full-blown EV platform for so many models, like VW’s MEB, GM’s Ultium or Nissan/Renault’s CMF-EV. It will be focused on making the most of packaging within a very specific vehicle size — a vehicle that has long been a best-seller for BMW.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus with AA cylindrical batteries - SNL parody, 4/2016

Julia Louis-Dreyfus with AA cylindrical batteries – SNL parody, 4/2016

The battery decision, however, would mark a complete turnaround for BMW, which has for years considered using this format an inferior option.

In 2017, as the building blocks for the current generation of electric vehicles were being laid, BMW’s R&D boss at the time, Klaus Fröhlich, told reporters that we wouldn’t be seeing shape cells. cylinders from BMW without game-changing chemicals. They are inherently higher risk, because they rely on a more aggressive chemistry to provide the same energy density in the same mass. That talking point was reiterated two years later around the launch of BMW’s fifth-generation EV powertrain, then launched in iX3 and used in i4 and iX.

Fifth generation BMW eDrive

Fifth generation BMW eDrive

BMW's Fifth Generation EV Technology

BMW’s Fifth Generation EV Technology

BMW's Fifth Generation EV Technology

BMW’s Fifth Generation EV Technology

It seems that the top executives differ on the formats and they have been around for a long time. Elon Musk in 2021 calls the probability of heat escaping “dangerously high with large pocket cells,” while many automakers prefer them — GM, for example, in large format.

BMW’s cells for those current BMW EVs are from CATL, Samsung SDI, Northvolt and Eve Energy. CATL supplies Mercedes-Benz with bags and prismatic umbrellas for the EQS, and among other EVs for the US market, it will supply umbrellas for the upcoming Nissan Ariya and select versions of the Toyota BZ4X and Subaru Solterra .

Mercedes-Benz EQS will use batteries from CATL

Mercedes-Benz EQS will use batteries from CATL

We’re curious to see how BMW views the cylinders as they grow — and perhaps the role of current supply chain issues, such as increased height. concerned about cobalt pricemay be playing in it.

Earlier this spring, CATL unveiled a new generation of cell-to-pack technologywith claims to be superior in capacity and/or power density over the 4680 format cells Tesla is switching to.

CATL . Third Generation Cell Encapsulation Technology

CATL . Third Generation Cell Encapsulation Technology

Meanwhile, CATL is said to be looking for production sites in the US. It was there before considered as US factory in 2019 but at that point, they chose to set foot first in Europe.

However, there are some undeniable trends associated with cylindrical cells – especially them Preferred cell type by almost every company that has a monopoly on making electric vehicles, like Lucid, Tesla, and Rivian. Those companies also produce some top vehicle.



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