MUNICH — BMW Group is developing a battery cell that promises to go farther, cost less and be gentler on the planet.The so-called Gen 6 battery, under development at the BMW Group Battery Cell Centre of Excellence here, delivers up to 30 per cent greater driving range than the current generation, according to the company.
"Energy density is much higher than before," Erhard told a group of journalists at a media briefing this week."You can put more cells into the battery pack."BMW said the new battery pack is 50 per cent less expensive. That will be essential to achieving price parity with combustion engine vehicles, as the battery pack accounts for about 40 per cent of an electric vehicle's cost.
The Gen 6 battery promises to go farther on a single charge and recharge faster. Recharging from 10 to 80 per cent is 30 per cent quicker. Erhard said the technology maximizes energy efficiency with"smart integration while keeping safety high and a low carbon footprint."