EDITOR ’ S CHOICE CONTINUED EXPANSION
BMW
E-drive train production for the fully-electric models BMW iX and BMW i4 begins
Production of fifth-generation highvoltage batteries and bat-tery modules for use in the BMW iX * and BMW i4 is now underway at the Compe-tence Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing . At the same time , the company is also increasing production capacity for its fifth-generation electric motor , which has been built in Dingolfing for the BMW iX3 * since 2020 and will also power the BMW iX * and BMW i4 . “ We expect at least 50 percent of the vehicles we deliver to our customers worldwide to be electrified by 2030 . To achieve this , we are relying on our extensive in-house drive train expertise : We are increasing capacity at exist-ing drive train production locations – like here in Dingolfing – and developing capa-bilities at others – like recently in Regensburg and Leipzig ,” explained Dr Michael Nikolaides , Senior Vice President , Production Engines and E-Drives , BMW Group .
The BMW Group is investing more than 500 million euros in expanding production capacity for e-drives at its Dingolfing location alone between 2020 and 2022 . From 2022 , it will produce e-drives for more than half a million electrified vehicles . The BMW Group
The BMW Group is investing more than 500 million euros in expanding production capacity for e-drives at its Dingolfing location alone between 2020 and 2022 .
will invest a total of around 790 million euros in expanding capacity for electric powertrain components at its Dingolfing , Leipzig , Regensburg and Steyr lo-cations between 2020 and 2022 .
Standard production of the BMW iX * will soon get underway at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing , followed by production of the BMW i4 at Plant Munich in the autumn . The highly integrated e-drives and highvoltage batteries for these vehicles will all be manufactured at the Competence
Centre for E-Drive Production in Dingolfing . The BMW Group already began producing battery components at Plants Regens-burg and Leipzig in April and May 2021 . In line with growing demand for e-drives , BMW Group Plants Landshut and Steyr are also stepping up production of e-drive housings .
PRODUCTION OF FIFTH- GENERATION BMW EDRIVE TECHNOLOGY
The output and energy content of drive units and high-voltage batteries with fifthgeneration BMW eDrive technology can be flexibly scaled . This means they can be optimally adjusted to suit different model variants .
Each vehicle uses up to two highly integrated e-drives , which combine the electric motor , power electronics and transmission in a single housing . Based on the de-sign principle of a current-excited rotor , the fifth-generation e-drive does not re-quire any materials classified as rareearth metals .
BMW eDrive technology also comprises a high-voltage battery with state-of-the-art battery cell technology . The BMW Group agreed with its suppliers that they will only use renewable green power for producing fifth-generation battery cells . The entire high-voltage battery boasts outstanding qualities in the areas of perfor-mance , charging and discharging characteristics , durability and safety . The techni-cally standardised production process for battery modules has been further devel-oped in such a way that different module variants can be produced on the same production line – in line with the growing range of electrified vehicle models and performance levels . The production systems are highly flexible and scalable . Bat-tery modules are produced from supplied prismatic battery cells at the respective BMW Group production location . A modular system developed inhouse allows model-specific high-voltage batteries to be manufactured from these modules in a flexible arrangement .
6 PECM Issue 51