The electric revolution is gaining momentum, and as it does so, the need for automakers to present world-first technology and features as a way of differentiating themselves from their closest rivals becomes ever greater. BMW's way of getting there is by experimenting with the implementation of new tech on its Neue Klasse platform. This new platform will support the next generation of electric vehicles, which the automaker says will look unique in order to be easily identifiable by customers.

The first car to come from the new platform is known internally by the codename NK1, which could become the electric 3 Series, and thanks to a new report from Autocar, we now know that it could debut alongside solid-state battery technology.

The energy density of solid-state batteries could come close to doubling the range of current electric vehicles with no other changes, which is certainly something worth pursuing. However, the development challenges of these are a massive hurdle to overcome, which is part of why they haven't yet been seen on a production EV. But why is BMW even interested in solid-state batteries when it has earlier said that its entire electric car range would have no more than 600 kilometers (372 miles) of range?

Well, solid-state technology would mean that BMW could produce smaller, lighter batteries to achieve the same range, and this would eventually lead to lower production costs once solid-state tech becomes easily available.

In addition, solid-state batteries will be recyclable, which will make BMW's EVs far more sustainable and environmentally friendly than ever before. To be clear, these new batteries won't be debuted on the NK1 car, whatever that becomes called. They will, however, be shown for the first time in a demonstrator vehicle by 2025, the same year in which we expect to see the NK1.

Once the tech is ready, BMW will be a step closer to making its EVs alike in price to its traditionally-powered vehicles, which is thanks in part to the much cheaper manufacturing costs associated with these next-gen batteries. So although it's still unclear if the NK1 car will get solid-state batteries in its lifetime, the tech will almost certainly be viable for its successor.