BMW and Coldplay Revolutionize Concerts with i3 Batteries

Live music tours are getting a big boost in terms of sustainability thanks to collaboration between BMW and the acclaimed British band Coldplay. In a bold leap into the future, BMW is providing the power for Coldplay’s ‘Music of Spheres’ tour, with a battery made up of more than 40 recycled BMW i3 batteries.

And what makes this project truly innovative? In Spain and Portugal, for the first time, this power supply provides not only power for audio, video, special effects, and technical support, but also power for lighting. In other words, all the power necessary for the concerts will be supplied through this state-of-the-art power source.

In addition to the concert held today in Barcelona, ​​which will be repeated tomorrow, May 25, and then on May 27 and 28, they will be powered by these recycled batteries with a maximum capacity of 1,680 kWh. This initiative makes the tour one of the greenest in history and sets a new standard in sustainability for the live music industry.

The batteries of the BMW i3 they were the first in the global automotive industry suitable for second-life use without further processing. This technology is a fundamental component of the BMW Group’s vision of sustainability and circular economy.

Between concerts, the batteries are recharged with renewable energy from sources such as photovoltaic solar panels and generators that run on biofuels. And here comes the interesting thing: concert attendees will also be able to contribute their bit in the loading process. Kinetic flooring has been installed in the stadium to harness the movement of the thousands in attendance, and there are a number of electric bikes that will harness the collective energy of the fans.

Chris Martin, Coldplay’s lead vocalist, expressed his pride in the collaboration: “We are proud to partner with BMW to create the first live concert powered by portable, rechargeable batteries. This innovation will allow us to power our concerts with clean and renewable energy.”

Additionally, to minimize the impact of carbon emissions associated with transportation, Coldplay uses two trucks powered by biofuels to transport the accumulator and components such as cables from one city to another. These biofuels come from renewable raw materials, such as used cooking oil.

They have also made efforts to minimize air travel and, where necessary, will pay a surcharge to use or supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) produced from waste and scrap, such as used cooking oil from restaurants.

Jens Thiemer, BMW Senior Vice President, Customers and Brands, highlights the joint commitment of both parties towards sustainability, mentioning that “the shared awareness of sustainability has led to an intense and creative co-creation process between BMW and Coldplay throughout the of the last few years.”

The collaboration between BMW and Coldplay began in 2014, with the band featuring on the song “Higher Power” for the launch campaign for the all-electric BMW iX and BMW i4 and the metaverse BMW JOYTOPIA presented at IAA Mobility.

For the first time in the industry, the battery in the BMW i3 is used for secondary use without additional processing, taking the concept of sustainability to another level. In short, this collaboration is a big step towards a future in which live concerts are not only a spectacle for the senses, but also an expression of commitment to sustainability and innovation.