Sustainable approach to e-mobility

German automaker BMW is taking a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development in the entire industrial chain of production for it electric-mobility vehicles.

The manufacturer is making special efforts to ensure that suppliers, production and even vehicles' end of life cycle do not have a negative impact on natural resources.

"For us, sustainability means future viability - for BMW and for society," said BMW AG Chairman Harald Krueger. "We know the challenges and are rising to meet them. We develop innovative mobility solutions that create additional value for customers, the company and society."

One of the marque's latest moves is a 200 million euro ($246.93 million) battery cell competence center under construction in Munich, Germany.

BMW said it will concentrate on know-how from various departments and locations at the new center and step up its efforts, incorporating the research findings directly into the latest battery generation.

This core competence - which covers the entire value chain from the selection of materials, cell design, integration into battery systems, to manufacturability and production technologies - will give the company a definite competitive edge, according to the carmaker.

It has already completed years of research into battery cells and acquired a high level of evaluation competence, especially through the development of the BMW i models.

Klaus Frohlich, member of the BMW AG Board of Management, responsible for Research and Development, said: "We will be concentrating all our in-house expertise along the battery-cell value chain at our new high-tech competence center.

"International experts working in the new development labs and facilities will conduct important research to refine cell chemistry and cell design. We will focus on further improvements in battery performance, lifespan, safety, charging and also costs. We will set the benchmark for the industry."

Oliver Zipse, member of the BMW AG Board of Management, responsible for Production, said: "By producing battery-cell prototypes, we can analyse and fully understand the cell's value-creation processes.

"With this build-to-print expertise, we can enable potential suppliers to produce cells to our specifications. The knowledge we gain is very important to us, regardless of whether we produce the battery cells ourselves, or not."

BMW is developing the fifth generation of its electric drivetrain, for release in 2021, in which interaction between the electric motor, transmission, power, electronics and battery have been further optimized.

The carmaker is also working to increase transparency and governance in its supply chain to overcome any social and environmental issues.

Cobalt is one of the key components used in high-voltage batteries for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids.

In December 2017, BMW became the first carmaker worldwide to release information about countries of origin for raw materials and refineries that process the materials used in its battery cells. BMW said it is also working with an independent partner on a feasibility study to explore to what extent the social and ecological situation can be sustainably improved through model mines for artisanal mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ursula Mathar, head of sustainability and environmental protection at BMW AG, said: "BMW does not procure any cobalt itself; it only comes into contact with this raw material through the purchase of battery cells, for example.

"However, we are well aware that growing demand for electric vehicles also goes hand-in-hand with a responsibility for the extraction of relevant raw materials, such as cobalt.

"As a premium manufacturer - and in the interests of our customers - we aim to establish a transparent and sustainable supply chain that meets the highest standards."

BMW is working to ensure a sustainable and transparent supply of copper, another major raw material used in electric cars. In 2017, BMW purchased 42,000 tons of copper with a value of more than 200 million euros.

In January 2018, the carmaker inked a deal with Chilean copper mining company Codelco to establish the Responsible Copper Initiative, which is designed to achieve its commitment to ecological and social responsibility in the copper industry.

Within the framework of the initiative, Codelco will ensure that the developed standards and tools meet the demands of end users and BMW.

The carmaker said it will have 25 electrified models on sale in 2025 and its copper demand will have increased by 20,000 additional metric tons, so it is of crucial importance that it secures a sustainable supply chain for electric mobility, including raw materials.

As part of its holistic approach to decarbonization, BMW has also made a major breakthrough in energy supply.

The company said in 2017, for the first time, 100 percent of the electricity it bought in Europe came from renewable energy.

The goal is for all other locations worldwide to follow suit by 2020. A large number of projects are helping BMW to manage its energy resources more efficiently and continue to reduce its carbon dioxide footprint, according to the company.

For example, wind turbines at the Leipzig site ensure that the BMW i3 is produced using solely CO2-free electricity, and a new battery farm at the same location enables energy from the plant's wind turbines to be integrated into the power grid.

In this way, up to 700 used BMW i3 high-voltage batteries are given a "second life", which extends their usefulness beyond the end of the vehicle lifecycle and saves resources, said the carmaker.

(China Daily 04/25/2018 page6)