To bolster protection from global supply chain issues, production lines for Neue Klasse batteries are being set up in Hungary (Debrecen set to be the first plant to build the Neue Klasse X), China, Mexico and Woodruff – near BMW’s massive Spartanburg facility in the US. As for maintenance, it’s also far easier to disassemble the new battery design and its Energy Master unit in case a repair is needed – the battery can unscrew out of the car’s underside while the Energy Master is accessible under the rear seats.
Two electric motor designs but no front-wheel drive
BMW’s taking what it calls a ‘technology-open approach’ with the Neue Klasse, giving rise to a variety of electric motor layouts – though don’t expect any front-wheel drive BMW EVs to directly replace the current BMW 1 Series. That’s because while single-motor power will be offered, it’ll be mounted on the rear only to drive the rear wheels.
Two kinds of electric motors have been developed for use in Neue Klasse models. In dual, tri or quad motor all-wheel drive ‘xDrive’ models, there will be one or two asynchronous motors at the front, which use permanent magnets. The rear motors will instead use ‘electrical excitation’. Simply put, the front motor will be more compact (allowing for a frunk storage space) and weigh around 70kg. It will provide between 120kW and 180kW of power while offering better cost efficiency than the old Gen5 electric motor. The heavier rear motor (120kg) will be more powerful – we’re told between 200kW to 300kW is possible.
BMW says a bonus to having two different electric motors is that the front motor will be better suited to low speed manoeuvres while the larger rear motor will perform better under normal driving conditions and motorway cruising. Integrated into the larger rear-mounted electric motor, the gearbox will be a single-speed affair – though bespoke ratios will be available for specific models. The stiffness of the electric motor mounts and bushings can also be tweaked depending on the model.
