The BMW Group is working with Rimac Technology (Croatia) on the new electric BMW i7. The joint project aims to bring Gen6 eDrive technology developed by BMW to the new all-electric BMW 7 Series Sedan. The technology was designed for an innovative high-voltage storage system for greater range and higher charging speed.
“Together, we developed a high-voltage battery system that unlocks the full potential of the new cylindrical cells in record time, delivering significant improvements in energy, range and charging performance,” said Mate Rimac, the founder and president of Rimac Group, and CEO and CTO of Bugatti Rimac.
The sixth generation of BMW eDrive technology (Gen6) will be integrated into the new all-electric model in the form of a 4695 lithium-ion cylindrical cell. The cell is characterized, among other things, by a 20% higher volumetric energy density compared with the prismatic cells of the Gen5.
The high-voltage battery, which combines Gen6 cell technology with the established Gen5 module design, enables the new BMW i7 to achieve a significantly increased range.
According to BMW, i7 customers can also charge much more quickly, thanks to the newly developed technology.
“We are quickly rolling out the technologies of the Neue Klasse across our entire model portfolio – including, of course, in our all-electric luxury sedan,” said Dr Thomas Engelhardt, senior VP of development for high-voltage storage and charging at BMW Group. “The teams of both companies have developed a tailor-made solution for the new BMW i7. The excellent collaboration with Rimac Technology is a good example of European innovative strength.”
The high-voltage battery is manufactured on state-of-the-art equipment at Rimac Technology in Croatia and delivered ready for assembly at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing, the world’s only production facility for the BMW 7 Series.
Rimac added, “BMW has always been known for pushing engineering to the highest level, which made this collaboration especially exciting for us.”
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