BMW in UK projects for long range and fast charging EV batteries

Technology News | August 18, 2021

By Nick Flaherty

Automotive Materials & processes Batteries / Power Supplies

BMW is leading a £26m project in the UK to develop long range batterypacks for its electric vehicles.

The project aims to develop BMW Group’s largest battery pack to deliver superior performance at competitive costs and will further develop electric vehicle technology, enabling enhanced performance and emission savings. BMW are working with their suppliers and partners to drive sustainability through every aspect of their production process and the vehicle lifecycle.

The project include £12m from the latest round of projects from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC).

“This is a really exciting opportunity to collaborate with world leading companies to develop high tech battery technology. It strengthens our UK partner base and safeguards and extends our research and design centre,” aid Andreas Loehrke, Head of Research and Design for BMW Motorsport Ltd. UK.

This is one of four projects from APC18, totalling £90m.

BMW is also part of a separate £9.7m project aims to develop ultra-fast charging battery cell and pack for electric and fuel cell hybrid vehicles to accelerate their market acceptance by addressing consumer concerns over charge time. The technology being developed by project CELERITAS and led by Sprint Power in Birmingham is targeting a typical BEV to be charged in 12 minutes and for fuel cell vehicles, will enable a fast response battery pack to facilitate an optimised fuel cell system saving size and mass of the system and providing a significant improvement to the overall vehicle efficiency.

CELERITAS will also develop the UK supply chain to allow UK battery electric-vehicle and mild-hybrid electric vehicle manufacturers to achieve post-Brexit requirements of more than 50 percent parts sourced from UK suppliers within three years. This will use a 2170 format NCA lithium ion cell from AMTE Power and s well as MW theproject includes the Clas-SiC Wafer Fab in Scotland.

“As we move steadily towards the UK’s ban on new petrol and diesel combustion engine vehicles in 2030, tackling consumers’ concerns on EVs head on is critical. We are delighted to be leading this pioneering project that will create a step change in battery charge times, helping to create highly efficient fuel cell vehicles for the future and accelerating the charging time on battery electric vehicles significantly closer to refuelling times on today’s internal combustion engine cars,” said Richie Frost, Founder and CEO of Sprint Power.

£41.2m is being spent on a project led by REE at their €100m Engineering Centre of Excellence at the MIRA technology park in Nuneaton for the mass production of the REEcorner technology. This packs critical vehicle components (including steering, braking, suspension, powertrain and control) into a single compact module located between the chassis and the wheel, enabling fully-flat EV platforms to meet the growing needs for efficient commercial electric vehicles.

The project will develop and manufacture assembly technology in Nuneaton for REEcorners for use in electric light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs) and mobility-as-a-service applications.

“REE is delighted to have been selected as recipient of APC funding to support REE investment in the UK automotive ecosystem following an extensive vetting and selection process. The UK is an ideal location for a pioneering automotive company like REE thanks to the country’s commitment to vehicle electrification which dovetails with our vision towards propelling a zero-emissions, greener future for our generation and those to come,” said Mike Charlton, REE Chief Operating Officer

The £14.6m BRUNEL project in Darlington will accelerate the development of hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) led by Cummins for medium and heavy-duty engines for trucks and construction equipment.

www.apcuk.co.uk

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