With a Tesla Model S, with which they have driven more than 1200 kilometers, they have already proven that they develop tangible technology: The US start-up ONE (Our Next Energy) has now entered into a promising deal with BMW. The Detroit-based company wants to implant a real range of almost 1000 kilometers in the BMW iX with the battery technology it developed itself.
Specifically, there is talk of 600 miles, i.e. around 965 kilometers. The series model of the Munich SUV flagship with the greatest range comes to 630 kilometers – but for how much longer? Everything indicates that BMW intends to use ONE technology in series production in the not too distant future. They will not have invested millions in the promising start-up for nothing. The technology is unusual. One uses two different lithium-ion battery compositions in a power storage device, i.e. actually two batteries in a row. One supplies the drive with electricity, the other charges this drive battery as a kind of range extender. As a result, they accommodate significantly more energy in the same installation space and they save raw materials: according to their own statements, 20 percent lithium, 60 percent graphite, as well as nickel and cobalt.ONE is not about achieving striking range records, says founder Mujeeb Ijaz, a former senior Director at Apple. Rather, he wants to solve the problem that today’s electric cars do not achieve acceptable ranges in everyday life, in cold weather, mountainous terrain or with a trailer.Baris Guzel from BMW’s start-up department BMW i Ventures based in Silicon Valley thinks highly of the young Company: “Our Next Energy is in the process of fundamentally reinventing the battery. In doing so, they keep an eye on sustainability, safety and costs, three key factors that accelerate development and flow into series production.” We will know more at the end of the year, when the strengthened BMW iX is ready.
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