BMW uses an i7 to test the 'holy grail' of EV battery technology
- BMW is testing its all-solid-state batteries in a BMW i7 around Munich
- The batteries promise longer range and faster charging than current EVs
- This is the first real-world demo of the new technology
Published on May 22, 2025 at 10:10 PM (UTC+4)
by Jason Fan
Last updated on May 22, 2025 at 10:41 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
The BMW i7 is now more than just a luxury electric sedan.
It is a rolling lab for what could be the biggest breakthrough in EV batteries.
BMW is using the i7 as a testbed for all-solid state battery (AASB) technology, widely seen as the ‘holy grail’ of electric mobility.
But what exactly is the deal with ASSBs?
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The simple answer is that AASBs promise much higher energy density, in a more compact and lighter package.
This means longer range, faster charging, and safer performance, while removing the bulk and weight of today’s lithium-ion systems.
Research into faster charging is definitely important, considering BYD already has ultra-fast chargers that can charge an EV in just five minutes.
The batteries come from Solid Power, a US-based battery developer that has been working with BMW since 2016.
The carmaker and Solid Power believe these next-gen batteries could transform electric vehicles.
The test isn’t just about range either, although EVs with a long range are definitely a plus.
The carmaker’s engineers are looking at how the battery behaves on the road.
They are studying how to manage pressure, heat, and the way cells expand under different conditions.
The cells themselves were made by Solid Power, with input from BMW’s own battery experts.
But this is just one step, and more development is needed before ASSBs can power mass-market vehicles.
To push that work forward, the carmaker is building its own solid-state prototype line at its Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf, Germany.
Using a license from Solid Power, BMW’s team will manufacture and test its own solid-state cells.
To move faster, the carmaker also works with a network of over 300 partners, including startups, universities, and big industry players.
In the world of EV technology, it’s necessary to move quickly.
In any case, the next time you see a BMW i7 on the streets of Munich, it might be quietly shaping the future of electric driving.
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Jason Fan is an experienced content creator who graduated from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore with a degree in communications. He then relocated to Australia during a millennial mid-life crisis. A fan of luxury travel and high-performance machines, he politely thanks chatbots just in case the AI apocalypse ever arrives. Jason covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on technology, planes and luxury.
