PARSDORF (dpa-AFX) - Automaker BMW has criticized the German government and the EU in unusually strong terms. The economy is "increasingly confronted with short-term legislative changes and growing bureaucracy," board member Milan Nedeljkovic said Thursday in Parsberg near Munich. This is putting the brakes on investments. In terms of infrastructure, "we are falling behind in international comparison. Unreliable transport routes, high energy costs, but also a lack of network coverage are unacceptable for a modern industrial location," said the BMW production boss.

Germany and Europe must take care not to fall behind as an industrial location in competition with other economic areas. However, the traditional strengths here include the education system and the first-class research network. That is why BMW has now built its battery cell production competence center in Parsdorf at a cost of 170 million euros.

In two years, BMW plans to launch a fundamentally new generation of electric cars, with 30 percent more range and charging speed. Nedeljkovic started production of the battery cells needed for this at the new pilot plant in Parsdorf.

The small factory will test the industrial production of battery cells developed by BMW itself, which are to be used in the "New Class" models from 2025. Board member for development Frank Weber said that with this, "we will then scale up the best product in Parsdorf toward the series production process."

The carmaker will buy in the cells for the batteries later. However, the pilot plant will enable BMW to optimize the battery cell it has developed itself together with subsequent suppliers and to try out mass production. One million cells can be produced here annually.

Experts from purchasing, research, development and production work together at the plant. The long-term goal is a fully recyclable battery cell, the company said. This is also economically necessary in view of the expensive raw materials. BMW has already produced the first battery cells from 100 percent recycled cathode material.

In cell production, graphite for the anode and nickel oxides for the cathode are first mixed with binders and solvents and applied to ultra-thin metal foils, "thinner than the threads of a spider's web." The coated aluminum and copper foils are then inserted into the cell housing, which is filled with electrolyte. The tubular battery cells are about ten centimeters high. They are then assembled by BMW into large, heavy high-voltage storage units in its own battery factories near its car plants. The first models of the "New Class" are to roll off the production line in Debrecen, Hungary, and at the main plant in Munich./rol/DP/nas