BMW Says It Will Have Solid-State Battery Vehicles By 2030
While the shift to electric power is real and well underway for most auto manufacturers across the industry, the next big step in this domain is the development of solid-state batteries. We know that Toyota, for example, is working on the technology; now BMW has announced that a concept with such a system is coming for 2025, and is projecting a first production model to be ready by 2030.
This type of battery will power the next generation of electric models at BMW, which will be fundamentally distinct from the EVs we know now. Currently, the Bavarian company's electric models are based on existing combustion-engine models, but the vehicles to come, to be grouped under the “Neue Klasse” banner, will be assembled on a platform dedicated to electrified products.
Solid state batteries, as their name suggests, are characterized by their solid electrolyte, as opposed to the liquid electrolyte used in the lithium-ion batteries that equip current electric vehicles. BMW believes this new approach will significantly increase energy density.
And higher energy density means that more energy can be stored in a given volume of space. This will allow for increased range without the need for a more-massive battery. It will also make it possible to design more-compact units.
Read more