BMW Group has signed an agreement with US-based Our Next Energy (ONE) to incorporate the startup’s battery technology in a BMW iX SUV.
The two firms plan to develop a prototype iX with 600 miles, or almost 1000km, of electric range on a single charge.
This is more than double the claimed 420km of range the entry-level iX xDrive40 has according to ADR testing.
ONE says it expects to complete development of the prototype vehicle by the end of 2022.
This BMW iX prototype will have ONE’s Gemini Dual-Chemistry battery technology which is said to have two different battery chemistries: one for “Power Delivery” and the other for “Energy Storage”.
Specific details are few and far between about ONE’s battery technology but the startup claims it reduces lithium use by 20 per cent while reducing graphite use by 60 per cent. It also minimises the use of nickel and cobalt.
“We are thrilled to be working with BMW to demonstrate our Gemini long-range battery technology to consumers,” said ONE CEO Mujeeb Ijaz.
“As EV adoption grows, drivers are learning that real-world conditions can significantly reduce the performance of their batteries.”
“Common situations like maintaining highway speeds, winter temperatures, climbing mountains, towing, or a combination of all four things present challenges to electric vehicles.
“We plan to pack twice as much energy into batteries, so EVs can easily handle long-distance driving in real-world conditions.”
ONE recently retrofitted a prototype of its Gemini Dual-Chemistry battery technology into a Tesla Model S and was able to achieve 752 miles (1210km) on a single charge on a test loop in Michigan.
It remains to be seen if ONE will be able to demonstrate the claimed 600 miles of electric range with the iX in the real world, given its heftier, circa-2400kg kerb weight.
iX M60
The BMW iX first arrived locally in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the high-performance flagship iX M60 is set to arrive from mid-2022.
All iX models currently have a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with total system outputs ranging from 240kW of power and 630Nm of torque in the xDrive40, to 445kW and 1100Nm in the M60.
BMW currently offers the iX with a smaller 77kWh battery pack in the xDrive40 and xDrive40 Sport, and a larger 112kWh battery pack throughout the rest of the range.
iX xDrive50 Sport
Claimed range for the current BMW iX range is as follows:
- iX xDrive40: 420km
- iX xDrive40 Sport: 420km
- iX xDrive50 Sport: 620km
- iX M60: 566km
All of the claimed range figures are according to ADR testing, besides the iX M60 which is under the WLTP test cycle.
Maximum DC fast-charging speeds are up to 150kW in the xDrive40 and up to 200kW in the xDrive50 and M60. Maximum AC charging speed on the other hand is 11kW for the entire iX range.
MORE: Everything BMW iX
