BMW will introduce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in selected Neue Klasse electric vehicles, alongside its existing nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) technology. The strategy will focus on specific models and market requirements rather than replacing NMC batteries across the entire range.
BMW CEO Milan Nedeljković outlined the approach during a telephone conference discussing the company’s third-quarter financial results. The China-specific iX3 30L, an entry-level long-wheelbase version of the electric SUV, already uses an LFP battery. Higher-priced iX3 40L and 50L variants continue to rely on NMC chemistry.
BMW to Target LFP Batteries at Specific Models
Nedeljković said BMW considers its new NMC cylindrical cells a competitive technology and will continue using them as the foundation of the Neue Klasse lineup.
“With Neue Klasse, we are starting with the NMC technology and the cylindric batteries, and this technology is now superior in the market. We see that our range we can offer with the iX3 and the i3 are deeply impressing also in China, and that is why we start on that level.”
However, the company also sees a role for LFP batteries, which offer a different cost structure and driving range. Their use will depend on the vehicle and its intended purpose.
“So we will add the LFP technology in our vehicles, but we will be very specific in which vehicle and for which purpose. And so it will come, but it will not be a generic exchange or a generic offer in all segments.”
BMW has not confirmed when an LFP-equipped Neue Klasse model will become available in Europe.
Neue Klasse Uses Gen6 Battery Technology
The Neue Klasse lineup unveiled so far includes the iX3 electric SUV and the i3 electric saloon. BMW says the i3 will offer a driving range of up to 912 kilometres, approximately 100 kilometres more than the iX3.
Both models use an 800-volt electrical architecture and BMW’s new 46-millimetre-diameter cylindrical NMC cells. According to the automaker, these cells deliver around 20 per cent higher energy density than the prismatic NMC cells used in its previous battery generation.
The cells are sourced from different suppliers depending on the market and integrated directly into the high-voltage battery using a cell-to-pack design. BMW also incorporates the battery housing into the vehicle’s structural framework through its pack-to-open-body approach.
The automaker groups these developments under its Gen6 battery technology. While NMC remains the primary chemistry for the Neue Klasse, the selective introduction of LFP cells will give BMW additional flexibility in positioning vehicles across different price categories and markets.
Source: bmwblog.com