'Big leap forward': BMW pours cold water on solid-state battery plans, insists upcoming iX3 and 3 Series Neue Klasse electric cars will deliver major improvements in EV range and power

BMW estimates it is still years away from requiring solid-state batteries, as the brand spruiks its upcoming sixth-generation battery technology as the next evolution in EV production.

The term “solid-state” has become a buzzword in the car industry as of late as brands lock into an arms race to develop the technology which is often considered a silver bullet for promoting EV uptake thanks to its potential to unlock huge driving range.

China’s SAIC Motor, the parent company of MG, claims it is eyeing mass-production of the technology next year, while BMW’s principal German rival Mercedes-Benz recently began testing of its own solid-state battery, which it claims offers up to 1000km of driving range.

But BMW will not be drawn in on overzealous launch dates, according to its Vice President, Martin Schuster, who told UK publication Autocar there is still a lot of life left in regular lithium-ion battery technology.

“The most important thing is the lithium ion battery: it's not finished. You [still] see improvements. There is no one and only [breakthrough] battery. It will not come. But the lithium ion battery at the moment [can] improve in a steady way, to reduce the cost, because that will be the main, most important goal,” said Schuster.

“We can do [solid-state] now, but the cost in the packaging makes no sense to do. There is still a long way to go with lithium-ion.”

Unlike current liquid-based EV batteries, solid-state batteries, as the name suggests, use a solid electrolyte between their cathode and anode materials.

2026 BMW M3

The solid material is more energy dense, offering greater driving range and rapid charging capabilities, while alleviating safety concerns with less flammability.

Production is far more expensive, however, due to the complex manufacturing processes and the higher cost of materials it requires, which is why BMW believes its sixth-generation technology will bridge the gap.

Set to debut on its upcoming iX3 in September under the new Neue Klasse platform, CEO of BMW M, Franciscus Van Meel, told CarsGuide earlier this month that the new battery technology will mark a “big leap forward” for the brand.

“I think solid-state is on the horizon, but not here yet. BMW is, as communicated, working on the sixth generation of batteries, which actually will make a huge increase in range, power density [and] power output,” said Van Meel.

This suggests big things for the upcoming BMW M3, which will launch in both electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) guises next year, with the former set to debut as the M brand’s first Neue Klasse vehicle.

Van Meel said M vehicles would have unique powertrain requirements under the new platform.

“For M vehicles, we also have to look at chemistry in cells to get more power out of it because, of course, we install more power and we want to have a continuous power output. We have to look into cooling as well."

The 800-volt Neue Klasse architecture will use cylindrical lithium-ion cells, a first for BMW, which are claimed to be 20 per cent denser than the square cells currently used in its fifth-generation battery packs.

BMW is aiming for a 30 per cent increase in driving range than what is currently available and a 30 per cent increase in the time it takes to charge an one of its electric cars from 10 to 80 per cent.

To put that into perspective, that would mean the range of BMW’s recently updated iX, which the brand claims can offer up to 701km on the xDrive60 variant under the WLTP cycle, would theoretically increase to 911km.

Charging time, meanwhile, would fall from the current 35 minutes it takes to charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent on a 195kW DC fast charger to less than 25 minutes.

When quizzed by Autocar on whether BMW could fall behind its more solid-state-oriented rivals, such as Mercedes-Benz, despite the big projected advancements in its sixth-generation battery technology presents, Schuster said cost would be the determining factor.

“They are in a price range which is not competitive. That's fact today. When we will see it in a competition against lithium ion, then [we will take note]."