- BMW Group’s plans to bring solid state battery technology to future production EVs has reached a crucial milestone, after deploying a test vehicle with all solid state battery cells, in collaboration with solid state batteries manufacturer Solid Power.
- The test vehicle, a BMW i7, is being operated on the streets of Munich to further develop the technology.
- BMW Group joins a growing list of manufacturers now testing out solid state battery-based EVs on the road, such as Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz.
BMW puts solid state battery cells in a BMW i7
As we’ve explored in previous articles, solid state batteries have the possibility of pushing EV range and efficiency to new highs, and when it comes to a long-distance luxury saloon such as the i7, this is likely to be the first type of segment that we’ll see future BMW production models with solid state batteries come from.
The concept battery used within this i7 test vehicle uses the same fifth generation electric drive and battery systems as existing BMW EVs, combined with new module concepts that allow the all solid state battery cells from Solid Power to be integrated into the vehicle. With this test, BMW and Solid Power are looking to review how cell expansion and operating temperature can be managed. BMW Group notes that ‘further development’ is needed to turn these solid state batteries into a ‘competitive’ system.
When will BMW’s first solid state battery EV arrive?
Despite this milestone, BMW told Autocar earlier this year that the OEM wouldn’t need to add a solid-state batteries option to its production lineup for another eight years. After all, BMW’s upcoming Gen6 EV platform, which will use conventional batteries, is already expected to bring greater efficiency and range figures above the 400 mile mark. Other manufacturers are also expected to bring solid state batteries to production cars from the turn of the next decade, which broadly puts BMW on track with rival OEMs.
John Van Scoter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solid Power, commented:
“Solid Power is extremely proud that our partnership with BMW has resulted in the first demonstration of truly all-solid-state battery cells in a vehicle. We believe in the promise of ASSB’s and continue to drive innovation of our sulfide electrolyte in support of that future for EVs.”
Martin Schuster, Vice President of Battery Cell and Cell Module at BMW Group, added:
“Our BMW i7 ASSB test vehicle on the road is a perfect example of the BMW Group’s technology-open mindset. We are continuously advancing the development of new battery cell technologies and are constantly expanding our know-how with valuable partners such as Solid Power.”
