At Plant Landshut, the place a few of the BMW’s most superior electrical elements are developed, we attended a workshop that supplied an inside take a look at the Neue Klasse’s electrical drivetrain. Recent off discussions about BMW’s sixth-generation (Gen6) battery expertise, our consideration turned to the second half of the equation: the electrical motors chargeable for placing energy to the pavement.
Whereas battery developments usually dominate EV discussions, motors and energy electronics are simply as essential in defining how an electrical automobile performs, how effectively it makes use of vitality, and—most significantly for BMW—the way it drives. And never surprisingly, the corporate isn’t following the trade playbook.
Extra Energy, Extra Flexibility
Not like many automakers relying solely on everlasting magnet synchronous motors (PSM)—which use uncommon earth supplies—BMW is taking a special strategy, combining externally excited synchronous motors (EESM) on the rear axle and asynchronous motors (ASM) on the entrance.
BMW’s Gen5 electrical drive system, utilized in fashions just like the iX and i4, has matured since its introduction in 2018. However Gen6 improves in almost each approach. One of many largest modifications? Extra motors, extra energy, and a extra adaptable platform.
As an alternative of the dual-motor setups utilized in most of as we speak’s efficiency EVs, the Neue Klasse platform can accommodate as much as 4 electrical motors. That’s a significant leap in flexibility. These motors are lighter, extra environment friendly, and cheaper to supply, because of refinements of their design and supplies.
BMW engineer Michael Salmansberger gave us a more in-depth take a look at the brand new motors, explaining that 4 variants of the EESM models are deliberate, every weighing round 125 kg (276 lbs) and producing between 268 hp (200 kW) and 402 hp (300 kW). The ASM will include two variants within the entrance axle, with 120 and 180 kilowatt on the rear axle.
The facility potential is apparent—BMW might scale from a single-motor Neue Klasse sedan to a quad-motor, high-performance M automobile with over 1 megawatt (1341 hp) utilizing the identical base expertise. We’ve already seen what the BMW Imaginative and prescient Driving Expertise prototype can do.
There’s additionally a change in how that energy reaches the wheels. As an alternative of a standard two-speed gearbox, BMW is utilizing a single-speed transmission, but it surely operates as a two-stage gearbox because of an intermediate shaft that adjusts the gear ratio as wanted. It’s basically a high-performance single-gear system designed for each motors.
Why BMW is Transferring Away from Everlasting Magnets
Most premium EVs as we speak, together with these from Tesla, Lucid, and Mercedes-Benz, depend on everlasting magnet motors for his or her excessive effectivity and compact measurement. The catch? They require uncommon earth supplies, that are costly, environmentally problematic to mine, and topic to geopolitical provide chain points.
BMW’s externally excited synchronous motor (EESM) eliminates that dependency by producing its personal magnetic area utilizing an electrically excited rotor as a substitute of a everlasting magnet. This has some key benefits:
- No reliance on uncommon earth supplies, making sourcing and manufacturing extra sustainable.
- Extra exact management over torque supply, because the magnetic area might be adjusted dynamically.
- Decreased vitality losses at decrease hundreds, enhancing general effectivity.
Nonetheless, there’s a cause EESM motors aren’t widespread—they require electrical enter to generate the magnetic area, which may barely scale back effectivity underneath fixed high-load circumstances. BMW acknowledges this however argues that in real-world driving, the power to optimize energy output dynamically outweighs the downsides. By adjusting the excitation ranges on the fly, BMW’s Gen6 motors can fine-tune effectivity primarily based on driving circumstances, one thing everlasting magnet motors can’t do as successfully.
A Smarter Entrance Motor for Effectivity
BMW’s alternative to make use of an asynchronous motor (ASM) on the entrance axle is simply as strategic. Not like synchronous motors, an ASM doesn’t require steady electrical enter, which means it may stay inactive when front-wheel traction isn’t wanted. Which means much less vitality consumption throughout regular driving whereas nonetheless permitting immediate engagement when further grip or energy is required.
Whereas ASMs are usually barely much less environment friendly when engaged in comparison with everlasting magnet motors, the important thing benefit right here is their capability to function with zero drag when not in use. This setup permits BMW to steadiness effectivity and xDrive efficiency dynamically, somewhat than forcing all 4 wheels to be powered always.
The outcome? A system that maximizes vary in regular driving whereas retaining AWD functionality on standby for when it’s wanted.
Silicon Carbide: The Secret Effectivity Booster
Even with higher motors, energy electronics make or break an EV drivetrain. That’s why BMW is transitioning to silicon carbide (SiC) semiconductors (seen already within the facelifted BMW iX), which scale back vitality losses in energy conversion, permitting for:
- Extra environment friendly operation at 800V
- Decrease warmth technology, which means smaller cooling methods and improved sturdiness
- Quicker and extra exact energy administration, enhancing each effectivity and responsiveness
BMW claims these modifications contribute to a 20% effectivity acquire throughout all the powertrain, although real-world outcomes will finally decide how a lot of that interprets into improved vary and efficiency.
Scalability: From Effectivity to M Efficiency
One of many largest takeaways from the Landshut workshop was how modular and scalable BMW’s new electrical drive system is.
A single-motor rear-drive Neue Klasse would be the most effective setup, however for high-performance fashions, BMW can add extra EESM motors for extra energy and AWD functionality. Future M automobiles might use a quad-motor setup, enabling superior torque vectoring, rear-biased AWD dealing with, and excessive energy outputs.
The system has been designed from the outset to permit for exact energy distribution between axles and particular person wheels.
A Completely different Strategy from the Competitors
BMW’s technique differs from opponents in a couple of key methods.
- Tesla and Lucid proceed refining everlasting magnet motor tech, prioritizing outright effectivity and energy density.
- Porsche and Audi take a hybrid strategy, combining PSM and ASM motors for efficiency optimization.
- Mercedes-Benz stays dedicated to uncommon earth-based PSM setups for his or her excessive effectivity and predictable energy output.
BMW is betting that its rare-earth-free strategy will repay in price, effectivity, and long-term sustainability, even when it requires extra refined energy administration.
Engineering Over Hype?
Attending BMW’s Landshut workshop highlighted one factor: the corporate isn’t dashing into EVs simply to fulfill rules or comply with developments. It desires to use the identical engineering-led strategy that has outlined its combustion powertrains for many years. Will they rise to the highest? We are going to quickly discover out, however for now, the speculation sounds nice.
