BMW Group has revealed details of its upcoming electric powertrain technology that will underpin its future EVs.

The first Neue Klasse model, the iX3, is due at the end of this year

The carmaker has already revealed a series of concepts for its Neue Klasse line-up, including the Vision Neue Klasse X and Vision Neue Klasse saloon, ahead of the arrival of the first model, the iX3, at the end of this year.

It’s now provided some initial insights into the inhouse-developed high-voltage batteries and electric drive systems, which will also be used across the BMW Group’s fully electric product range, including Mini and Rolls Royce models.

The sixth generation of the BMW eDrive battery and motor technology – dubbed Gen6 – takes a big leap in improvements, including a 30% faster charging speed and 30% increase in range for the batteries, with certain models achieving even higher figures.

The Gen6 high-voltage battery technology also benefits from new 800V technology, enabling faster charging speeds along with bidirectional vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging as standard. The current Gen5 prismatic cell types are being replaced by cylindrical battery cells, said to have a 20% greater energy density.

The new, slimmer design also enables the high-voltage battery to be integrated into a spread of different models, regardless of vehicle height.

BMW is also adopting a ‘technology-open approach’ to electric drive motors.

As with current BMW Group EVs, the new e-drive system for Gen6 retains the use of an electrically excited synchronous motor (EESM) which, as with the Gen5 version, will be positioned above the rear axle but gains major upgrades.

But the Neue Klasse additionally incorporates asynchronous motor (ASM) technology that will be fitted on the front axle of all-wheel-drive models.

According to BMW, when compared to a Gen5 xDrive model, a future Neue Klasse model complete with EESM and ASM technology reduces energy losses by 40%, costs by 20% and weight by 10%.

The ‘technology-open approach’ will also enable customers to choose from models with one, two, three or four electric motors to suit their individual preferences and requirements.

Lastly, BMW has implemented a new ‘Local for local’ approach for its battery assembly and supplier network, using five new production facilities located close to its vehicle plants in Lower Bavaria, Germany; Debrecen, Hungary; Shenyang, China; San Luis Potosí, Mexico; and Spartanburg, USA. This approach safeguards production “even in the event of unforeseen political and economic events”.

Series production of the Gen6 electric drive systems will commence at BMW Group’s Steyr facility this summer.

The iX3, as the first Neue Klasse model, will go into series production later this year at the Debrecen plant in Hungary.