BMW Gen6 Batteries May Foreshadow Class-Leading EV

At BMW’s 100-year-old factory next to its Munich global headquarters, electric i4 sedans move along the same assembly line as diesel 3 Series wagons, plug-in hybrid 3 Series sedans, and gasoline M3s. For the past few years, this approach was considered to be BMW’s future: a flexible vehicle platform and production line that allows the automaker to tailor which powertrains went into its cars based on market conditions and customer demand.  It’s quite a sight to behold. But producing EVs this way has its limits.  As the electric competition heats up, BMW will move to a dedicated, from-the-ground-up architecture for EVs dubbed “Neue Klasse,” or New Class. That name comes from the iconic sport sedans and coupes that built the brand’s whole identity in the 1960s.  This new Neue Klasse will also debut with the sixth generation of BMW’s lithium-ion battery packs. The…

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