Takeaways
- The BMW i7‘s Gen6 battery uses 4695 cylindrical cells offering 20% higher volumetric energy density than previous prismatic cells, enabling significantly increased range.
- The battery is manufactured at Rimac Technology’s facility in Croatia and delivered to BMW‘s Dingolfing plant for final assembly, with the vehicle premiering 22 April 2026.
According to a BMW Group press release, the automaker is cooperating with Rimac Technology (Croatia) on a new high-voltage battery for the all-electric BMW i7.
The system will premiere at Auto China 2026 in Beijing on 22 April and will also be shown simultaneously at a separate event in New York City.
Gen6 4695 Cylindrical Cells Deliver 20% Higher Energy Density
The battery uses BMW‘s sixth-generation eDrive technology (Gen6) in the form of 4695 lithium-ion cylindrical cells, which are 46mm wide and 95mm tall. These cells offer 20% higher volumetric energy density compared to the prismatic cells used in the previous Gen5 system.
The high-voltage battery combines Gen6 cell technology with the established Gen5 module design, enabling the new i7 to achieve significantly increased range, according to BMW.
Rimac Campus in Croatia Produces Batteries for Dingolfing Assembly
The battery is manufactured on state-of-the-art equipment at Rimac Technology’s facility in Croatia, specifically at the 90,000m² Rimac Campus near Zagreb. It is then delivered ready for assembly at BMW Group Plant Dingolfing in Germany, the world‘s only production facility for the BMW 7 Series.
Rimac Technology is a Tier 1 supplier within the Rimac Group, specialising in high-voltage battery systems, e-axles, and electronics and software solutions developed and produced in-house.
New i7 Premieres 22 April With Faster Charging
BMW states that i7 customers will also be able to charge much faster thanks to the newly developed technology, with increased charging capacity and reduced charging times. Specific range and charging figures will be disclosed at the 22 April premiere.
For reference, the outgoing i7 has a maximum charging rate of 195 kW, capable of a 10% to 80% charge in approximately 34 minutes. Mate Rimac, founder and president of Rimac Group, said the revised electricals will bring “significant improvements in energy, range and charging performance.”
The open question is whether the new i7‘s charging performance, while improved, will close the gap with Chinese luxury EVs that already offer 10% to 80% charge times of 12 to 15 minutes on 800V platforms.
