BMW Aims to Become the Industry Benchmark for EVs with Range, Charging Speed and Pricing

BMW Group’s full-electric alternative to the 3 Series and other vehicles underpinned by the Neue Klasse architecture will become the industry's range, charging speed and pricing “benchmark.” BMW CEO Oliver Zipse made this bold statement at the CES event last week, previewing elements of the technology for Neue Klasse models. The first car on the electric platform is expected to arrive in 2025 with class-leading tech and a promise from Zipse that they will be the benchmark in terms of range, charging speed, and pricing.

The promise of being a benchmark for EVs has been met with some skepticism due to BMW's handling of iDrive evolution and reliance on third party charging networks when competitors such as Tesla and Mercedes are building their own. Additionally, governments need to require or incentivize generic/universal charging solutions which would make it easier for EV owners to charge up.

Despite these concerns, BMW already holds the Range Benchmark for SUVs as no other SUV offers more range than theirs. Furthermore, there have been improvements in charging speeds and energy density. BMW claims that cylindrical cells developed by them will improve energy density by more than 20 percent, charging speed by up to 30 percent and range by 30 percent.

Although there is still much work to be done before BMW can prove their claim of becoming an industry benchmark, they have certainly taken steps in the right direction. With improved performance levels across all metrics, customers may soon find themselves enjoying greater convenience when using their EVs.The Neue Klasse platform is expected to be the foundation for a range of EVs, including sedans and SUVs. BMW has already announced that it will launch 25 electric models by 2023, with 12 being fully electric. This means that customers can expect more options when choosing an EV from BMW in the near future.

Zipse also mentioned at CES that they are working on developing autonomous driving technology which could potentially revolutionize how people use their cars in the future. The company plans to introduce Level 3 autonomy into its vehicles by 2021 and Level 4/5 autonomy within five years after that.

BMW's commitment to becoming an industry benchmark for EVs is certainly commendable but there are still many challenges ahead before this goal can be achieved. It remains to be seen if Zipse’s promise will come true or not but one thing is certain: BMW’s ambition towards electrification shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon!