BMW changes course on batteries- moving to 4680 format
- Thread starter UncleDave
- Start date
I saw that article last night. It is not what is mentioned in the original article you posted is it?
Yes, and the cars are far superior to Tesla. They're catching up fast on the motors/battery (some are already better, IMO, like Hyundai/Kia with their easily swapped modular system and 800V architecture), and then it's all but over, because Tesla STILL has not learned how to actually assemble a car.
It is - here's a screenshot.
BMW is reversing course on prismatics and moving to the tesla form factor.
Not sure what the debate is here. Its cut and dried.
That’s a screenshot from your first article.
“China’s EVE Energy Co Ltd will supply BMW with large cylindrical batteries for its electric cars in Europe, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as the German automaker follows Tesla Inc. in adopting the new technology”
The quote above was not written by Reuters. It is nowhere to be found on their website.
Kinda like the megapixel conundrum, or how a 330 HP engine with 268 ft. lbs. sells, because 330 was in the marketing materials
The date of the Electrek post quoting Reuters, and the date of the Reuters article are the same day.
Then BMW confirmed movement to a 46MM cell in their own press release.
What is the debate here?
Yes it is what was mentioned in the article. Do you work for BMW? If so we need to have a discussion about that front grill.
1. The quote does not exist. It is not a quote, it is the authors imagination. I will give him credit because he did not formerly quote it, he made it a pseudo quote.
2. BMW confirming the use of 46mm cells does confirm in any way that they are 4680 cells. They author is drawing his own conclusions not based in fact.
3. There is no debate the article is poorly written.
Did you actually read the Reuters article above? My guess is no you did not but here it is again.
https://www.reuters.com/business/au...-tesla-like-cylindrical-batteries-2022-08-17/
As for BMW using the 4680 cells yes the BMW press release confirms it when they say 46-mm in two sizes.
"...The new BMW round cells come with a standard diameter of 46 millimetres and two different heights.."
Last edited:
I wouldnt be thrilled to answer your question but I wouldnt be thrilled with a Tesla either as they switch to the 4680
Isnt innovation and adapting to improve products a good thing? Its certainly a constant moving target with everything in the auto industry, even more so a new technology..
Ps. Unrelated = I have no idea way the story you posted is being challenged in here.
Its total reversal on BMW's part but a smart one.
They latch onto the costs savings of the highest volume cell tesla uses driving the price down further.
Ill bet their in house battery guy is steaming.
This isn't innovation - its copying, (and capitulation) but in may case that isn't always a bad thing.
In this case its smart business
Latch on the volume leader and use the commoditized parts - but differentiate elsewhere.
Several other examples of this come to mind.
Small block chevy
The pentastar v6
The ETA (swatch) swiss mechanical watch movement powers 90+% of " swiss watches"
Im always at a loss trying to understand your posts. Very negative ...
In the last 5 years, here in South Carolina alone BMW manufactuered 2 million of the X line of SUVs. Just SUVs two million. No other cars, just 2 million SUVs.
In Thirteen years Tesla manufactured 2 million compact cars globally not just the USA.
I know a golf cart company that most likely beats them all. To focus on one type of vehicle power is silly.
What are they copying? The article seems to say they will be buying batteries from the same Chinese company as Tesla.
Are there any products in the world, any at all, that dont do things like this, including the computer or cell phone or tablet that you are posting in here with. I wonder if Tesla used any existing ideas and technologies on any parts in their vehicles, yeah, like thousands.
Hey who invented the disc brake? *LOL*, Who invented the Wheel? How about IC Chips? Display technology...
Come on man! *LOL* I just cant believe the bias against everything EV except Tesla in this forum.
Last edited:
The 4680 format was apparently co-developed by Tesla. EVE is going to make them for Tesla and BMW . The "gotcha" is that BMW couldn't design their own battery format which met their performance requirements so they're having to relent and use this format developed by Tesla.
"..In 2020, Tesla introduced a new 4680 (46mm by 80mm) cylindrical battery format, which is much bigger than any other cylindrical cell put into electric vehicles to date....
..Tesla has been manufacturing the 4680 cell itself, and it already made its way in the Model Y produced at Gigafactory Texas. But the automaker has also been encouraging other battery manufacturers to produce the cell, as it plans to buy every viable cell it can get..."
My "big boy" comments are satire for the nearly universal comments (far beyond BITOG) declaring Tesla a flash in the pan. The opposite is true. Yet the big boy stuff continues even as the big boys continue to struggle.
The "know how to make cars" stuff refers to legacy car makers building cars that, from an EV standpoint at least, pale in comparison to Tesla. The legendary BMW appears to have made a crucial mistake in battery selection. You cite the BMW X vehicles. What is the manufacturing efficiency and profit margin of those vehicles? Customer satisfaction?
I want the other car companies to succeed, because the customer becomes the winner.
I will take your comments on me to mind as I respect your opinion. I may be wrong, but I think we are coming from 2 different approaches. You look at sheer delivery numbers, which is certainly important while I look at the business end as that is my background.
In an EV the battery practically IS the car and the result of a large chunk of R&D in building an EV.
Of course tesla uses components designed before - like Brembo brakes in their performance models.
Thats not the point the point is the winning format will be the cheapest $ per KWH which will drive sales and margins for all companies adopting it.
Im not sure about the back and forth stuff in here, dont get it, dont get the constant trashing of every manufacturer except Tesla.
This whole world, everything you do is a mesh of technologies from thousands of companies, EVERY company expands on and uses someones ideas or technologies including Tesla.
Someone invented the wheel right? Do all vehicles use wheels? Someone invented the computer right, do not thousands of companies now make parts for them, someone invented disc brakes do not almost every car of the world use them.
I dont know, to me, it seems like some, not all Tesla owners have some type of complex by trashing other vehicle makers, even though the amount to Teslas on the road is a needle in a haystack compared to the other companies.
As car battery technology. I dont see the argument. I mean its all here in print. So what is the big deal? That Tesla may have helped develop it, that Tesla is already manufacturing them?
Every product in your life has components that was developed by someone other than the brand you are using. But YOU CHOOSE the best, most refined product that uses those technologies.
Maybe this will help you guys with some CURRENT information =
https://electrek.co/2022/09/09/bmw-...4680-cells-pledging-six-ev-battery-factories/
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/glob...n=BMW Group PressClub Global&utm_medium=Email
https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a41168261/bmw-tesla-4680-battery-cells/
https://www.teslarati.com/bmw-catl-eve-energy-supply-46mm-batteries-vs-tesla-4680-cells/
"To produce the new batteries, BMW is going to build six new factories around world with its partners CATL and EVE, on top of the five factories it already currently operates. Two of these will be in China, two in Europe, and two in the US, Mexico or Canada."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesm...th-new-gen6-cylindrical-cell/?sh=5a4902ef3248
This whole world, everything you do is a mesh of technologies from thousands of companies, EVERY company expands on and uses someones ideas or technologies including Tesla.
Someone invented the wheel right? Do all vehicles use wheels? Someone invented the computer right, do not thousands of companies now make parts for them, someone invented disc brakes do not almost every car of the world use them.
I dont know, to me, it seems like some, not all Tesla owners have some type of complex by trashing other vehicle makers, even though the amount to Teslas on the road is a needle in a haystack compared to the other companies.
As car battery technology. I dont see the argument. I mean its all here in print. So what is the big deal? That Tesla may have helped develop it, that Tesla is already manufacturing them?
Every product in your life has components that was developed by someone other than the brand you are using. But YOU CHOOSE the best, most refined product that uses those technologies.
Maybe this will help you guys with some CURRENT information =
https://electrek.co/2022/09/09/bmw-...4680-cells-pledging-six-ev-battery-factories/
https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/glob...n=BMW Group PressClub Global&utm_medium=Email
https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a41168261/bmw-tesla-4680-battery-cells/
https://www.teslarati.com/bmw-catl-eve-energy-supply-46mm-batteries-vs-tesla-4680-cells/
"To produce the new batteries, BMW is going to build six new factories around world with its partners CATL and EVE, on top of the five factories it already currently operates. Two of these will be in China, two in Europe, and two in the US, Mexico or Canada."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesm...th-new-gen6-cylindrical-cell/?sh=5a4902ef3248
Last edited:
I already posted both of these in this thread - well the first of the series anyway.
These articles are what the thread is about.
Comparing dislike product volumes like ICE vs EV isnt all that relevant - segment performance is what the industry focuses on.
Last edited:
