BMW deepens cooperation with Solid Power for solid-state batteries and accelerates development.

The BMW Group and Solid Power have recently agreed to expand their joint research and development efforts. A research and development license is expected to enable the automaker to establish a prototype solid-state cell line at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf near Munich, based on Solid Power's expertise. This new phase of cooperation offers "significant benefits" to both companies, argue the Munich team, including the complementary cell development and manufacturing activities at both Solid Power and the BMW Group to further develop the know-how for the design and manufacturing process of solid-state cells.

"BMW continues to work intensively on the development of solid-state battery cell technology - a technology we believe has significant future potential," said Frank Weber, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Development.

Through the cooperation, it is possible to produce solid-state cells based on Solid Power's designs in its own pilot plant. The new solid-state cell prototype line will accelerate the market maturity of the cell technology.

"Expanding our relationship with BMW is further proof that both companies believe in the technology development of Solid Power and the importance of solid-state batteries," said David Jansen, interim CEO, president, and chairman of Solid Power.

As the next step on the way to long-term industrialization, Solid Power plans to deliver full-size cells for automotive testing purposes to the BMW Group in 2023. A first demonstration vehicle with the technology is planned before 2025.

A new Li-Ion generation starting in 2022

The Munich team already announced the next generation of Li-Ion technology for 2022 with a view to the near future and aside from the cooperation with Solid Power: In September 2022, the BMW Group announced its Gen6 Li-Ion cell. For the sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology, which will be used in the so-called Neue Klasse, the company has fundamentally redeveloped the cell format and cell chemistry. The new round cell is expected to increase the range of the longest-range model by up to 30 percent (according to WLTP). The cells have a diameter of 46 millimeters and two different heights of 95 mm and 120 mm. Compared to the prismatic cells of the fifth battery cell generation, the volumetric energy density of the cell is expected to improve by more than 20 percent.

This is also expected to increase sales volume: The manufacturer promises a rapidly growing product range and aims to have more than two million fully electric vehicles on the road by the end of 2025. The Munich team's projections estimate that 50 percent of the BMW Group's global sales could be achieved with fully electric vehicles by 2030. The MINI brand is expected to offer a fully electric product range by the early 2030s, while Rolls-Royce is also set to become a fully electric brand from 2030. All future new models of BMW Motorrad in the field of urban mobility will also be fully electric, the company further announced.