MUNICH: BMW's sixth-generation eDrive system would go into its electric Neue Klasse vehicles.
The first model with the latest eDrive is set to enter series production later this year at the Debrecen plant in Hungary.
Unveiled at the Tech Days event in Landshut on the outskirts of Munich, the new system features a revised high-voltage battery concept that incorporates BMW’s advanced cylindrical cell, delivering a 20% improvement in energy density over the previous Gen5 prismatic cell.
Supported by an 800V architecture, the Gen6 battery is said to offer a 30% faster charging speed and a corresponding 30% increase in range, while standard bidirectional charging offers additional flexibility in energy use.
The key is what BMW called the "Energy Master", an intelligent control unit it made that manages both high- and low-voltage power supplies, monitors battery data and oversees the electric motor and vehicle electrical system.
This component, produced at its Landshut plant, will be fully manufactured from August 2025.
The Gen6 drive system also uses a modular approach to electric motor production, incorporating both electrically excited synchronous motors (EESM) and asynchronous motors (ASM).
The EESM design eliminates the need for permanent magnets, optimising efficiency and performance, whereas the ASM provides a more compact and cost-effective solution.
Note that some Neue Klasse models will combine both motor types to deliver enhanced performance and all-wheel-drive capability, resulting in an overall 20% improvement in vehicle efficiency alongside reductions of 40% in energy losses, 10% in weight, and 20% in production costs compared to current EVs.
To secure its supply chain, BMW is adopting a “local for local” strategy, with new high-voltage battery assembly facilities established near vehicle plants in Germany, Hungary, China, Mexico, and the United States.
Contractual agreements have also been finalised with five battery cell factories across Europe, China, and the US to meet increasing demand.
BMW said it is further reinforcing its expertise across the electric mobility value chain by integrating development, purchasing, production and recycling.
For example, it is partnering with SK tes to recover valuable materials such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium from end-of-life batteries, while a direct recycling process is being trialled at a new Bavarian facility.
