BMW says bigger batteries in EVs aren’t the way

Higher efficiency, not bigger batteries, and a maximum real-world range of around 500km should be EV goals, according to BMW.

The German giant is looking to maximise its EV momentum with the next-generation Neue Klasse vehicles. However, it says thinking smarter and not bigger is the direction it is taking with battery packs and range.

BMW chief development officer, Frank Weber, told Automotive News recently “You can’t make battery packs bigger and bigger because then BEVs don’t make sense any more.” 

Not only do bigger batteries take longer to recharge but there’s also a penalty in terms of an inflated carbon footprint.

A 2022 study suggested heavier EVs mean increased particulate emissions from tyres wearing down more quickly. The bigger battery packs will also add further strain the supply chain, alread under pressure.

“Improving efficiency is much more important than ever-larger batteries,” Weber said. “And this is exactly what we are doing with the Neue Klasse, which makes efficiency leaps of up to 20 per cent, depending on the model.”

Weber added that current BMW EV customers seem happy with 400 to 500km of real-world range. This allows customers to complete most trips without charging. BMW is aiming for a significant range boost over its current models with the Neue Klasse line-up.

Other automakers have been saying a similar thing, that range is a red herring, and no one needs an 800km EV. 

BMW plans to launch six Neue Klasse EVs within the next two years. The first will be an electric crossover, production kicking off later this year. 

Those models will reverse BMW’s current trend of basing EVs on existing petrol platforms. However, they will still share elements with other BMW models, such as the new dashboard display unveiled at CES 2025. 

Upcoming EVs will set the design template for future gasoline BMW models, according to Weber.