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Electric car batteries and drive technology.

How electric car batteries work.

The benefits of electric drive.

An exploded view of a BMW electric drive

The battery-powered electric motor delivers powerful acceleration.

Unlike traditional combustion engines, electric motors transfer energy directly to the wheels from the motor, delivering power with less delay.

BMW Electric car Battery vs fuel tank

The electric car battery replaces the fuel tank.

Drive with electricity, instead of burning fuel. An electric car does not have a petrol or diesel tank. It has an electric car battery, well protected to withstand an accident, along with a charging system.

BMW Electric car Regenerative braking vs conventional braking

Regenerative braking charges the battery.

Cars with an electric motor have a regenerative braking system. Electric motors transfer energy from the battery to power the wheels, and when braking this energy is transferred back to the battery. This is known as energy recovery or recuperation.

The BMW electric car battery. Good to know.

Capacity, charging power or weight. Lots of terms are used with electric car batteries. A brief overview.

Close-up of several blue and white batteries on a conveyor belt at a BMW plant

Electric car batteries are essentially energy packs.

Batteries of electric cars are mobile energy stores. Electric car batteries consist of a large number of battery cells. These cells are charged with electricity from the charging station and transfer it to the electric motor. The amount of energy an electric car battery can store in kilowatt hours (kWh) is calculated from the number and energy content of the cells, often expressed in the form of its capacity. The charging power in kilowatts (kW) indicates how quickly an electric car will charge at the charging station.

A long service life is the inherent value of an electric car battery.

The electric car battery is equally as valuable and important as an engine in a combustion car. Amongst other things, the price of an electric car battery depends on its capacity. In short, the more energy an electric car battery can store, the more it costs. However, drivers can have a positive impact on the service life of an electric car battery by adapting their own driving behaviour. Built-in functions also help to protect it.

A grey BMW in side view is driving on a road by the sea

How to positively impact the service life of your electric car battery.

An electric car battery has been developed with the greatest care, however, range and charging performance decline somewhat over time in line with a normal ageing process. This is known as the State of Health (SoH). This term expresses the maximum energy capacity of a used electric car battery compared to a new one. A lower SoH equates to a shorter range. But you can maximise the service life of the battery with careful treatment and a cautious driving style.

Recommendations to optimise the service life of your electric car battery.

How the electric car battery retains its high energy level.

An electric car battery is designed for all kinds of everyday driving situations, but is still subject to physically induced ageing. To avoid time-related aging of the battery, it is best to avoid consistently high states of charge and high battery temperatures when the vehicle is parked. To avoid cyclic aging (aging due to high numbers of charging and discharging cycles), it is best to adopt an anticipatory driving style and moderate charging power.

The schematic drawing of a BMW i3 with a battery removed

Long-term experience using the
example of the BMW i3.

The durability of BMW electric car batteries is demonstrated by our pioneering electric car, the BMW i3. We have been observing the aging process of its electric car battery since launch in 2013. Even prior to the launch of the i3 during its development, we analysed the aging process by simulating it in complex driving and charging tests.

An illustration of a dismantled battery

Best prerequisites for newer BMW generations.

Compared to current models, the early BMW i3 models had very small electric car batteries. But, thanks to technical advances and bigger batteries, newer BMW electric car generations are once again better equipped to deal with ageing. However, as this is affected in individual cases by many factors, it is impossible to make a blanket statement about the ageing process of individual vehicles.

Batteries.

All battery producers in the UK must be registered with the Environment Agency as part of an EU-wide initiative to increase battery collected and recycling, and reduce the risk of releasing hazardous substances into the environment. BMW Group UK Ltd is registered as a producer of batteries under registration number BPRN00557.

 

Under the 2009 Waste Batteries and Accumulators regulation, BMW vehicle owners can dispose of their waste automotive, portable and industrial batteries (from electric/hybrid vehicles free of charge).

Vehicle batteries.

 

To replace the battery of your vehicle, it can be returned to your BMW Retail Centre where a new battery is installed. The old battery will be recycled in accordance with regulations. Alternatively, it can be delivered to one of the following facilities or recycling, in accordance with their policy:

 

  • Civic Amenity and Recycling Centres
  • Local Authority Battery Collection Scheme
  • Licensed End of Life Vehicle Authorised Treatment Facilities
  • Licenses metal recycling sites

 

To find your nearest recycling facility visit www.recycle-more.co.uk

 

Any battery removal, storage and transportation must be managed by a qualified expert.

 

 

Electric or PHEV vehicle batteries.

 

From 1 January 2010, businesses that place hybrid/PHEV vehicle batteries onto the UK market have an obligation to arrange for the treatment and recycling of these batteries. If you need advice on how to action this, please contact your local BMW Centre.

 

Any battery removal, storage and transportation must be managed by a qualified expert.

 

 

Portable batteries.

 

BMW Group UK Ltd is a member of ERP UK Limited producer compliance scheme to ensure that the recycling targets of portable batteries are met. You are able to recycle your portable batteries at your nearest collection facility.

To find your nearest portable battery disposal facility please visit https://www.recyclenow.com/what-to-do-with/batteries. To find out more about the benefits of battery recycling, please visit https://erp-recycling.org/uk/.

Our extended battery warranty for fully electric cars.

A hand touches the blue-bordered BMW emblem on the front of a red BMW.

The BMW Electric Warranty offers three year unlimited mileage cover from date of first registration. The warranty for your BMW Electric Vehicle also includes BMW Roadside Assistance and protection for the high voltage battery due to material defects, such as high voltage battery failure, or from excessive loss of battery capacity for up to eight years from first registration or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

For full terms and conditions please refer to your Vehicle Warranty, MOT Protect & Roadside Assistance Handbook issued at vehicle point of sale.

*Terms and conditions apply: warranty manual

The structure of an electric motor. Explained simply.

An illustration of a BMW electric motor

How an electric drive works.

An electric motor converts current into movement. It has two key components: the rotor and stator. As its name suggests, the rotor rotates. This occurs by the interaction of the magnetic field of the rotor and stator. The rotor’s magnetic field is generated by magnets or current, depending on the type of motor. The electric motor transmits this turning motion to the wheels through a 1-speed transmission. When you look at the driving cycle (WLTP), the efficiency of an electric motor is more than three times that of a combustion engine. BMW electric vehicles are often fitted with very efficient current-excited synchronous motors, so-called CESMs.

Driving an electric BMW. A unique experience.

An electric BMW drives offers a unique electric driving experience, whilst still feeling like a BMW. When you step on the pedal, the car accelerates immediately, powerfully and with excellent modulation, with a precise pedal feel when braking. BMW electric cars also have a low centre of gravity due to the battery being located in the underbody, allowing for impressive roadholding.

Side view of a grey BMW on a city road

Why an electric car accelerates so quickly.

The use of a 1-speed transmission means your electric BMW accelerates seamlessly without shifting. Torque is immediately there when you depress the accelerator pedal. When you take your foot off the pedal, your BMW slows down just as readily, depending on your preference and your selected energy recovery setting.

How a BMW brakes with intelligent recuperation.

The brake system of an electric BMW analyses braking situations for maximum efficiency and makes use of the full recuperation potential of the electric motor. If need be, the conventional brake system is also activated. This intelligent interplay recovers maximum energy, is gentle on the brakes and reduces brake particle emissions.

Questions and answers about batteries and electric motors.

More information.

A blue-grey BMW iX drives along an ocean road

Electric range. 

Our electric cars have a range that easily allows you to travel longer distances. The route planner will show you where you can charge your car while on the road.

A red BMW is charging at a charging station in a wooden garage

Charging at home.

Charge your electric car or plug-in hybrid overnight or between trips. Start your day ready to go and conveniently adapt the charging of your electric BMW to your everyday life.

Important information and disclaimers.

1 These figures were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. There is a new test for fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures. The electric range shown was achieved using the new test procedure. Figures shown are for comparability purposes. Only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the starting charge of the battery, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load.

2 The stated values are based on the mandatory WLTP measurement procedure. The real life values depend on various factors, e.g. cargo weight, driving style, route, weather conditions, auxiliary electrical consumption (including air conditioning), tires, battery state of health.