February 12, 2025 – In an interview with “Automotive News” on February 10th, Frank Weber, the head of BMW’s research and development, emphasized that “infinitely increasing battery capacity” is not feasible, warning that such an approach would ultimately undermine the purpose of electric vehicles.
Weber highlighted that while there are discussions about electric cars achieving a range exceeding 620 miles (approximately 997.79 kilometers), the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing such vehicles is “completely unnecessary”. Instead, he advocated for a focus on enhancing the overall efficiency of the vehicle.
According to BMW’s user surveys, most electric vehicle owners find a real-world range of 250 to 310 miles (roughly 402 to 499 kilometers) adequate for their daily driving needs. BMW’s current lineup already meets these requirements, and the upcoming Neue Klasse (New Generation) models are expected to offer a 30% improvement in real-world range compared to existing models.
“Statistics show that very few people actually drive electric cars for long distances,” Weber noted, stressing that developing more efficient electric vehicles is more crucial than merely increasing battery size. Meanwhile, advancements in battery technology are enhancing the user experience. The Neue Klasse models will feature BMW’s proprietary new cylindrical batteries, which charge 30% faster than current batteries, providing an additional 190 miles (about 306 kilometers) of range with just a 10-minute charge.
Regarding solid-state batteries, Weber believes they are still about a decade away from widespread adoption. “Solid-state batteries will arrive, but we may have to wait for at least one more generation of vehicles,” he said.
