BMW iX5 60 xDrive Lifecycle Carbon Cuts with Recycled Materials and Gen6 Battery Tech

electriccarsreport.com

by eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 points

BMW has announced that the fully electric iX5 60 xDrive will reduce lifecycle CO2e emissions by roughly 40 percent compared to previous models. The automaker says secondary raw materials account for about one third of the vehicle's weight, or around 940 kg. Half of the flat steel comes from electric arc furnaces powered by renewable energy, and aluminum doors use 35 percent recycled material from BMW's Spartanburg press shop. The Gen6 battery cells are a key part of the strategy. BMW says they cut CO2e emissions by 28 percent per watt-hour versus Gen5 cells, partly because they use higher proportions of secondary cobalt, lithium, and nickel and are manufactured with renewable energy. The company estimates the iX5 can achieve a lifecycle CO2e advantage over a comparable combustion model within one to two years of driving, depending on mileage and charging electricity mix. BMW Plant Spartanburg, where the X5 is built, sources all external electricity from renewables. Between 2006 and 2025 the plant cut energy use per vehicle by 66 percent and landfill waste by 88 percent. BMW plans to publish a TUV-validated Product Carbon Footprint report at launch to detail materials and CO2e across the lifecycle.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Interesting that BMW is putting numbers on lifecycle carbon cuts for the iX5. The 40 percent reduction in development CO2e and 28 percent per watt-hour improvement on Gen6 cells are concrete. I want to see the TUV report when it drops.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

The 940 kg of secondary raw materials is a big deal if it holds up. That is roughly a third of the vehicle weight. The aluminum door loop from the press shop is a good example of closed loop in practice.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The one to two year breakeven timeframe depends heavily on charging electricity mix. If someone charges on a dirty grid the advantage takes longer. BMW should publish the assumed grid carbon intensity in that estimate.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

That is exactly the kind of detail that matters for carbon accounting. A TUV validated report is good but the methodology behind the breakeven calculation needs to be public so people can compare across models.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Half the flat steel from electric arc furnaces with recycled content is a meaningful shift. Steel is a huge source of embedded carbon in vehicles. More automakers need to follow this path.

solar_winds_05·2 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. And the renewable energy at Spartanburg plus the fossil fuel free battery plant in Woodruff shows BMW is treating manufacturing emissions seriously. The 66 percent energy reduction per vehicle since 2006 is a good track record.