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BMW’s Neue Klasse To Take Just 10 Minutes To Replenish 300 Km Of Range

Published

2 years ago

May 17, 2024

BMW CEO Oliver Zipse announced yet more exciting details on the upcoming Neue Klasse electric vehicle platform. According to Zipse, BMW’s next-generation EVs will gain an impressive 300 km of range after just 10 minutes of charging. This feat will be enabled by the advanced 800-volt architecture.

The Neue Klasse platform is a significant milestone for BMW as the company transitions towards a fully electric future. The rollout is set to begin in 2025 with a replacement for the iX3, which will be manufactured at the company’s new Debrecen factory in Hungary. An i3 sedan will follow suit in 2026, produced at BMW’s Munich plant. Additionally, Neue Klasse production will expand to China in 2026 at the Shenyang plant, followed by Mexico in 2027 at the San Luis Potosí facility.

Zipse promises that Neue Klasse EVs will deliver at least a 30% increase in both range and charging speed compared to the current BMW electric lineup. This leap forward will be achieved by integrating sixth-generation batteries featuring round cells, which boast a 20% improvement in energy density while reducing production-related emissions by a substantial 60%. BMW is set to offer these batteries in three capacities: 75 kWh, 90 kWh, and 105 kWh.

The 2023 Vision Neue Klasse and 2024 Vision Neue Klasse X concepts offer a glimpse into the sedan and SUV models we can expect from the Neue Klasse platform. While BMW remains tight-lipped about specific details, at least four more models, including an i3 Touring and an iX4, are expected to join the lineup by 2028. Good news for M division fans: each of these new vehicles will receive a full-fledged M performance variant.

Practicality is another key focus for Neue Klasse EVs. The cars will come equipped with bidirectional charging capabilities, allowing owners to power their homes and feed energy back into the grid. While vehicle-to-vehicle charging has not been officially confirmed, early indications suggest that Neue Klasse models may also support the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Additionally, some models, like the iX3, are rumoured to feature a front trunk for added storage.