ENERGY TRANSITION
THE BMW GEN-6 HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY
The sixth generation of BMW’ s lithium-ion technology moves from prismatic cells to a sophisticated cylindrical format.
Digital twins optimising plant construction speed The development of the Irlbach- Straßkirchen site has progressed at what the company calls“ Bavarian speed”, helped by advanced digital planning tools. By creating a digital twin of the facility before the first stone was laid, BMW ensured that planning data and physical construction synchronised.
“ We are very proud of what we have achieved since we started in April, 2024,” says Sabrina.“ We not only generate a digital twin already in the planning phase, we also track and synchronise a completed structure with the planning data.
“ Having the final realised structure fed back in the digital twin provides proper service and maintenance during operation.”
These new cells feature a uniform diameter of 46 mm, produced in two distinct heights – 95 mm and 120 mm.
The Gen-6 system delivers a 20 % increase in energy density compared to the fifth generation.
The move to an 800-volt system architecture allows for a 30 % increase in charging speeds; users can now hit 370 km of range in 10 minutes of fast charging.
Overall vehicle range is improved by 30 %, with high-end models projected to reach approximately 805 km on a single charge.
Efficiency is enhanced by a cell-to-pack assembly method, which eliminates traditional modules and internal struts.
BMW and its suppliers have committed to a 60 % reduction in CO₂ emissions during the cell production process.
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