BMW, renowned for its luxury vehicles, is stepping into the electric vehicle (EV) arena with its forthcoming Neue Klasse platform. Set to debut with an SUV next year, this dedicated electric car platform promises to revolutionize the driving experience. One standout feature? Bidirectional charging.
Unveiled through the Vision Neue Klasse X concept, BMW's Neue Klasse architecture brings a long-awaited innovation to the table: bidirectional charging. While this technology has been available from other automakers for some time, BMW's adoption signals a significant stride in the EV market. With bidirectional charging, future BMW electric vehicles, including the iX3 SUV (expected in 2025) and i3 sedan (projected for 2026), will serve not only as vehicles but also as power banks for your household.
Bidirectional charging allows these EVs to supply power to various devices and appliances beyond just charging their own batteries. From household utilities to e-bikes and camping equipment, BMW's upcoming electric vehicles aim to integrate seamlessly into your lifestyle, enhancing convenience and versatility. What's more, BMW intends to include bidirectional charging as a standard feature, bucking the trend of luxury automakers charging extra for every add-on.
The transition to bidirectional charging coincides with advancements in battery technology. While current EVs and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) utilize batteries with prismatic cells, BMW's next generation will feature round cells. This shift promises significant improvements, with BMW estimating a 30% increase in charging speed and range, along with a 20% boost in energy density. These sixth-generation batteries are poised to not only power your vehicle but also your household appliances, redefining the role of EVs in daily life.
BMW's rollout of bidirectional charging will occur in three stages. Initially, Vehicle to Home functionality will enable EV owners to power their households directly from their vehicles. Subsequently, Vehicle to Grid capabilities will allow surplus energy to be fed back into the grid, albeit subject to regulatory approval in certain regions. Finally, Vehicle to Load will enable the powering of external electrical equipment, further expanding the utility of BMW electric vehicles.
Wael is an automotive content writer specializes in creating written content for Motor 283. Producing a wide range of content, including blog posts, articles, product descriptions, reviews, and technical guides related to cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles, with an unprecedented passion for cars, and motorcycles.
Further to Nissans’ recent announcement on it’s trial of innovative automotive paint technology, Harmeet Singh, Aftersales Director at Al Masaood Automobiles commented: “The summer months in the UAE witness high temperatures and humidity, which may ultimately have an impact on vehicles and cause discomfort to drivers – especially if parked outside. Nissan, in line with its commitment to leverage the latest technologies and intelligent mobility systems, is trialling with an innovative automotive paint that can address this issue. This latest technology will not only reduce the temperatures of exterior and interiors of vehicles, but it will also contribute to the reduction in use of fuels. While this new technology is still in the testing phase, it does have a promising potential.”
Nissan has been trialing an innovative automotive paint aimed at helping lower a vehicle’s ambient cabin temperature in summer and reduce the energy usage of the air-conditioning system.
Developed in partnership with Radi-Cool, a specialist in radiative cooling products, the paint incorporates metamaterial, synthetic composite materials with structures that exhibit properties not usually found in nature. The project is part of Nissan’s pursuit of differentiated innovations that empower journeys and to help create a cleaner more sustainable society.
In a significant stride towards innovative automotive design, Nissan is pioneering a new type of exterior paint designed to tackle a persistent problem: heat. This groundbreaking paint, developed in collaboration with Radi-Cool, leverages electromagnetic waves to reduce surface and interior temperatures, promising a cooler and more comfortable ride for drivers.
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