BMW will begin testing solid-state batteries in 2023.
BMW announced this month that it will begin testing a solid-state battery developed in collaboration with U.S. battery technology company Solid Power this year.
BMW has been working with Solid Power since at least 2017 on the joint development of solid-state batteries for automobiles.
In the latest phase of their partnership, BMW will also produce prototype versions of Solid Power's batteries at its battery laboratory near Munich, Germany.
Actual testing of the battery in prototype vehicles is planned for before 2025; BMW has previously said that vehicles powered by solid-state batteries could be in showrooms around 2030.
This target date is similar to what other automakers such as Nissan and the Volkswagen Group are aiming for; the VW Group has invested in QuantumScape, another US battery technology company, which claims its battery technology will increase range by 30% and and a 12-minute recharge time. Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai Motor Group have also partnered with U.S. battery technology companies, most notably Factorial, on solid-state batteries.
The battery, which is derived from a solid electrolyte, promises a longer range and shorter charging times compared to current liquid-type batteries, as well as improved safety and reduced costs. The main hurdle is producing the large quantities of batteries needed for automotive applications.
"BMW will continue to pursue all-solid-state batteries, a technology with great potential for the future," Frank Weber, BMW's head of research and development, said in a statement.
Before introducing solid-state batteries, BMW will introduce a new lithium-ion battery with a round cell design that promises a 30% increase in range compared to current batteries of the same size and weight BMW calls this the "New Class" in German It will be introduced in a family of EVs code-named "Neue Klassen," which means "New Class. The first Neue Classe EVs are expected to arrive in 2025 and will include a sedan and a sporty SUV in the 3 Series segment.
