近日，当宝马新世代iX3首发亮相德国慕尼黑车展，其搭载中国电池企业所生产的4695大圆柱电池，使整车续航里程超900公里时，这场曾经由特斯拉在动力电池领域“引爆”的46系大圆柱电池技术革命，或将演变为全球主要电动汽车市场，布局新型电池技术路线核心战场的竞速。

　　这意味着，继美国车企特斯拉装车大圆柱电池后，大圆柱电池在全球范围的量产之路上，取得又一重大突破。这不仅承载着宝马电动化转型的希望，也折射出欧美部分车企在电池技术路线上的战略选择。

　　与此同时，业界关注的焦点莫过于，大圆柱电池能否撑起欧美电动汽车电动化的“野心”?

01

大圆柱电池引发电池技术变革浪潮

　　自2020年特斯拉首次推出其4680大圆柱电池以来，便在业内掀起了大圆柱电池研发热潮。

　　特斯拉押注大圆柱电池，旨在解决传统电池在能量密度、生产效率和成本控制等方面的瓶颈。资料显示，这种直径46毫米、高度80毫米的电池，通过大直径圆柱结构、全极耳设计等，可实现电芯能量密度大幅提升，使整车续航里程提升16%。同时，大圆柱电池高度自动化的生产方式，也有助于车企提高生产效率，降低生产成本。

　　在此背景下，大圆柱电池(4680/4695/46120等型号)还吸引了宝马、奔驰、通用等欧美主流车企布局。

　　不过，特斯拉46系大圆柱电池的量产之路并非一帆风顺，从最初规划到配套装车，已花费数年时间进行技术打磨和产能爬坡，而且当前产能仍未达预期。这表明，大圆柱电池从实验室研发，到规模化量产的工程化挑战远超行业预期。

02

宝马携手中国电池厂

有望加速大圆柱电池量产装车进程

　　据报道，宝马新世代iX3搭载的大圆柱电池，将赋能其第六代eDrive+800V高压平台，包括4695和46120两种型号。

　　资料显示，在大圆柱电池供应商选择上，宝马汽车已与亿纬锂能、宁德时代和远景动力三家中国电池企业形成深度合作。目前，这三家电池企业已在中国、欧洲、北美等国家和地区布局相关产能，并实现在部分地区的产品交付。

　　作为国内首家实现46系大圆柱电池稳定量产的企业，亿纬锂能此前就曾透露，其4695电池将配套BMW新世代iX3车型，充电10分钟可使整车增加300公里续航里程。

　　技术方面，据介绍，亿纬锂能大圆柱电池采用其三大核心技术：全极耳技术使电芯阻抗降低60%，功率提高100%;硅基负极技术使NCM+Gr/Si电芯能量密度提高15%;定向泄压防爆技术，在极端条件下可以快速触发，在5s内可释放50%热量。

　　同时，其大圆柱电池产品已形成标准化、零膨胀、高强度三大优势，即可以跨车型跨载具快速适配，并可抑制负极膨胀，相比传统铝壳方形电池强度提高5倍。

　　数据显示，截至2025年6月，亿纬锂能大圆柱电池累计装车超6万台，量产交付规模据行业前列。

　　产能方面，亿纬锂能沈阳基地大圆柱电池产线，已于2025年6月进入试产阶段，将助力宝马新世代iX3车型未来量产交付。同时，其匈牙利电池基地规划总产能30GWh，未来将为宝马等车企供应其大圆柱电池，从而形成中欧双轨并进的大圆柱电池产能体系。

　　宁德时代同样积极布局，其计划自2026年起为宝马新世代纯电车型供应其46系大圆柱电池，以满足宝马对高性能电池的需求。

　　据市场消息，宁德时代已规划8条共12GWh的大圆柱电池产线，技术路线覆盖4680/4695等型号。

　　远景动力无锡工厂首批46系电池已下线，并供货宝马全球平台;其沧州工厂也计划于2025年下半年实现量产。

　　宝马与中国电池企业紧密协作，将有助于确保新世代iX3的量产，同时还将带动大圆柱电池在全球市场的广泛应用。

　　相比之下，特斯拉虽然率先推出其4680大圆柱电池，但在量产进度上仍稍显滞后。截至目前，特斯拉仍在努力提升其46系大圆柱电池的产能，尚未实现业界所预估的大规模量产交付。

　　业界人士指出，宝马汽车通过与三家中国电池企业的紧密合作，有望后来居上，或将率先实现大圆柱电池在电动汽车上的大规模量产交付。这或将为其在全球电动汽车市场赢得先机，也可为欧洲其它车企在动力电池技术布局上，起到一定的示范作用。

　　此外，欧美主流车企加速布局大圆柱电池，除了基于大圆柱电池性能优异、制造效率高等优势外，还有供应链安全的考量。为降低方形电池以中国企业为绝对主导的影响，欧美部分车企“拥抱”大圆柱电池技术路线，以期“弯道”赶超发展势头迅猛的中国电动汽车产业。

　　随着宝马新世代iX3被推向市场，或将带动大圆柱电池的大规模量产落地，这也将为欧美电动汽车和全球大圆柱电池市场带来诸多机遇。

　　当前欧美市场正形成“特斯拉+宝马”双引擎驱动格局，大圆柱技术路线通过电池性能突破和产业链重构，或将重塑全球动力电池市场格局。同时，除上述电池企业外，还有比克、云山动力、睿恩新能源、LG新能源、松下等国内外电池厂，都在加速布局大圆柱电池。这场量产装车竞赛，或将加速动力电池技术路线的分化，推动动力电池领域从“产能扩张”向“新电池技术加速落地”跃迁。

　　2025年11月，中国化学与物理电源行业协会联合电池中国网，将在上海召开“第十届动力电池应用国际峰会(CBIS2025)”【点此查看会议介绍】。

　　其中，在“大圆柱电池技术及多元化应用”论坛上，来自产业链头部企业技术负责人，将解读大圆柱电池的技术难点，分享提升良率的工艺方案，交流探讨如何破解规模化应用的堵点。敬请关注。

Recently, when BMW's new generation iX3 made its debut at the Munich Motor Show in Germany, it was equipped with 4695 large cylindrical batteries produced by Chinese battery companies, enabling the vehicle to have a range of over 900 kilometers. This 46 series large cylindrical battery technology revolution, which was once "ignited" by Tesla in the field of power batteries, may evolve into a competition for the core battlefield of the new battery technology route in the world's major electric vehicle market.

This means that, following the installation of large cylindrical batteries by American car company Tesla, another major breakthrough has been made in the global mass production of large cylindrical batteries. This not only carries the hope of BMW's electrification transformation, but also reflects the strategic choices of some European and American car companies in the battery technology route.

At the same time, the focus of industry attention is undoubtedly whether large cylindrical batteries can support the "ambition" of European and American electric vehicle electrification?

01

Large cylindrical batteries trigger a wave of battery technology revolution

Since Tesla first launched its 4680 large cylindrical battery in 2020, it has sparked a wave of research and development in the industry for large cylindrical batteries.

Tesla is betting on large cylindrical batteries, aiming to solve the bottlenecks of traditional batteries in terms of energy density, production efficiency, and cost control. According to the data, this battery with a diameter of 46 millimeters and a height of 80 millimeters can significantly increase the energy density of the battery cells through a large-diameter cylindrical structure and full pole ear design, resulting in a 16% increase in the vehicle's range. At the same time, the highly automated production method of large cylindrical batteries also helps car companies improve production efficiency and reduce production costs.

In this context, large cylindrical batteries (models 4680/4695/46120, etc.) have also attracted mainstream European and American car companies such as BMW, Mercedes Benz, and GM.

However, the road to mass production of Tesla 46 Series large cylindrical batteries has not been smooth sailing. From initial planning to supporting installation, it has taken several years to polish the technology and ramp up production capacity, and the current production capacity has not yet reached expectations. This indicates that the engineering challenges from laboratory research and development to large-scale production of large cylindrical batteries far exceed industry expectations.

02

BMW partners with Chinese battery factories

Expected to accelerate the mass production and installation process of large cylindrical batteries

According to reports, the large cylindrical battery equipped on BMW's new generation iX3 will empower its sixth generation eDrive+800V high-voltage platform, including models 4695 and 46120.

According to the data, BMW has formed deep cooperation with three Chinese battery companies, namely EVE Energy, CATL, and Yuanjing Power, in the selection of suppliers for large cylindrical batteries. At present, these three battery companies have established relevant production capacity in countries and regions such as China, Europe, and North America, and have achieved product delivery in some areas.

As the first domestic enterprise to achieve stable mass production of 46 series large cylindrical batteries, EVE Energy has previously revealed that its 4695 battery will be paired with BMW's new generation iX3 model, and charging for 10 minutes can increase the vehicle's range by 300 kilometers.

In terms of technology, it is reported that EVE Energy's large cylindrical battery adopts three core technologies: full pole ear technology reduces cell impedance by 60% and increases power by 100%; Silicon based negative electrode technology increases the energy density of NCM+Gr/Si cells by 15%; Directional pressure relief explosion-proof technology can be quickly triggered under extreme conditions, releasing 50% of heat within 5 seconds.

At the same time, its large cylindrical battery products have formed three major advantages: standardization, zero expansion, and high strength. They can be quickly adapted across vehicle types and vehicles, and can suppress negative electrode expansion, which is 5 times stronger than traditional aluminum shell square batteries.

According to data, as of June 2025, EVE Energy's large cylindrical batteries have been installed in over 60000 units, with a production and delivery scale ranking among the top in the industry.

In terms of production capacity, the large cylindrical battery production line of EVE Energy Shenyang Base has entered the trial production stage in June 2025, which will assist in the future mass production and delivery of BMW's new generation iX3 model. At the same time, its Hungarian battery base plans a total production capacity of 30GWh, which will supply its large cylindrical batteries to car companies such as BMW in the future, thus forming a large cylindrical battery production capacity system with dual tracks between China and Europe.

CATL is also actively laying out its plans, with plans to supply BMW's new generation pure electric models with its 46 series large cylindrical batteries from 2026 onwards to meet BMW's demand for high-performance batteries.

According to market news, CATL has planned 8 large cylindrical battery production lines with a total capacity of 12GWh, covering models such as 4680/4695.

The first batch of 46 series batteries from Yuanjing Power Wuxi factory has been taken offline and supplied to BMW's global platform; Its Cangzhou factory also plans to achieve mass production in the second half of 2025.

BMW's close collaboration with Chinese battery companies will help ensure the mass production of the new generation iX3, while also driving the widespread application of large cylindrical batteries in the global market.

In contrast, although Tesla was the first to launch its 4680 large cylindrical battery, its production progress still lags behind slightly. As of now, Tesla is still working hard to increase the production capacity of its 46 series large cylindrical batteries and has not yet achieved the industry's estimated large-scale production delivery.

Industry insiders point out that BMW, through close cooperation with three Chinese battery companies, is expected to catch up and may be the first to achieve large-scale production and delivery of large cylindrical batteries in electric vehicles. This may give it an advantage in the global electric vehicle market and also serve as a demonstration for other European car companies in their layout of power battery technology.

In addition, mainstream car companies in Europe and America are accelerating the layout of large cylindrical batteries, based not only on the advantages of excellent performance and high manufacturing efficiency of large cylindrical batteries, but also on considerations of supply chain safety. In order to reduce the influence of Chinese companies as the absolute dominant force in square batteries, some European and American car companies have "embraced" the technology route of large cylindrical batteries, in order to "bend" and catch up with the rapidly developing Chinese electric vehicle industry.

With the launch of BMW's new generation iX3 on the market, it may drive the large-scale production and landing of large cylindrical batteries, which will also bring many opportunities for European and American electric vehicles and the global large cylindrical battery market.

The current European and American markets are forming a "Tesla+BMW" dual engine drive pattern, and the large cylinder technology route may reshape the global power battery market pattern through breakthroughs in battery performance and industrial chain reconstruction. At the same time, in addition to the aforementioned battery companies, domestic and foreign battery factories such as Bick, Yunshan Power, Ruien New Energy, LG New Energy, Panasonic, etc. are accelerating the layout of large cylindrical batteries. This mass production and assembly competition may accelerate the differentiation of power battery technology routes, promoting the transition of the power battery field from "capacity expansion" to "accelerated landing of new battery technologies".

In November 2025, the China Chemical and Physical Power Industry Association, in conjunction with Battery China Network, will hold the "10th International Summit on Power Battery Applications (CBIS2025)" in Shanghai. Click here to view the conference introduction.

At the "Large Cylindrical Battery Technology and Diversified Applications" forum, technical leaders from leading companies in the industry chain will interpret the technical difficulties of large cylindrical batteries, share process solutions to improve yield, and discuss how to break through the bottlenecks of large-scale applications. Please stay tuned.