Volkswagen announced it would spend $20.38 billion to produce batteries for electric vehicles, a move it claims will result in the creation of 20,000 jobs and $20.38 billion in yearly revenue. In order to manage the massive undertaking as VW scrambles to acquire sufficient capacity, resources, and supplies to fuel its EV ambitions, the carmaker will establish a new firm called Power Co.
VW’s complete battery supply chain, including new technology development, raw material mining, and end-of-life recycling, will be managed by Power Co. The information was released at the company’s first battery plant’s groundbreaking event in Salzgitter, a city in Lower Saxony, Germany.
According to VW CEO Herbert Diess, “the battery cell business is one of the pillars of our New Auto strategy, which will make Volkswagen a leading provider of the sustainable, software-driven mobility of tomorrow. “Building our own cell plant is a massive challenge both technically and financially. It demonstrates how we are introducing cutting-edge technology to Germany!
Volkswagen announced plans to construct six battery cell manufacturing facilities in Europe by 2030, including the Salzgitter site and one in Skelleftea, Sweden, last year. The fourth facility will be located in Eastern Europe, and the third factory will be located in Valencia, Spain. The business is also considering options for future gigafactory construction in North America. The facilities’ ultimate annual production capacity will be 240 gigawatt-hours.
Beginning in 2023, VW intends to implement a new, standardized prismatic cell design for its batteries across all of the company’s brands. By 2030, it is planned for this unified cell design to power up to 80% of VW’s electric vehicles. VW also has agreements with Samsung and CATL, two additional significant battery manufacturers. Additionally, the business is supporting QuantumScape, a San Jose, California-based startup that is developing solid-state batteries that are more energy-efficient.
Vertical integration is viewed by other automakers as being essential to the success of EVs, in addition to VW. Ford is constructing three new battery factories, each of which it claims will be able to produce 129 GWh annually. Together with LG Chem, General Motors plans to build four new battery facilities in the US with a combined annual capacity of 140 GWh. A $2.5 billion battery plant is being built by Stellantis in Indiana, and plans to produce cells in the US have also been revealed by Hyundai and Toyota.
In its transition to electric vehicles, VW, the second-largest automaker in the world by volume, has encountered challenges. According to Diess, who recently stated that the company was “basically sold out on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States for the year, anyone hoping to get an EV from VW, Audi, or any of the group’s other brands may have to wait until 2023, as the company works to overcome the chip shortage and production problems brought on by COVID shutdowns in China.
In This Article...
Who manufactures Volkswagen’s lithium batteries?
Volkswagen has teamed with UK-based battery manufacturer 24M Technologies to create next-generation lithium-ion batteries for use in VW’s electric vehicles utilizing 24M’s SemiSolid platform, according to 24M partner FREYR Battery on December 8.
Where do Volkswagen’s batteries come from?
As part of a $2.3 billion battery hub in Germany, VW already has a battery trial line and recycling facility in Salzgitter, Germany, and intends to build a full-scale factory there to begin producing cells in 2025. Additionally, VW established PowerCO as a separate firm just for its battery operations.
For the VW ID4, who manufactures the batteries?
Since there haven’t been many details regarding who makes the ID.4 batteries or what their formulation is, I did some research online and fell down a lot of rabbit holes.
Battery manufacturers:
- Ford and Hyundai both use SK.
- The batteries will be provided by South Korean company SK Innovation when production of the ID.4 is shifted to Chattanooga, Tennessee (Now SK ON).
- LG Chem now makes batteries in South Korea.
- SK batteries are produced in a facility in Georgia, USA.
Battery construction
- Toyocolor will give SK in Georgia conductive carbon nanotube dispersions so that larger batteries may be made with less material. In order to boost the li-ion battery capacity of electric vehicles (EVs), these lioaccum dispersions are utilized as the conductive additive in li-ion cathodes. This allows for longer driving ranges and quicker charging times.
- NMC 811 is anticipated to reduce costs over earlier formulations while also naturally increasing cell energy density somewhat (perhaps by 10% or more).
- LG employs the NCM 712.
- The third quarter of 2019 will see the introduction of the cutting-edge NMC 811 lithium-ion cell chemistry, according to SK Innovation, a significant Korean battery manufacturer.
- 811 contains 10% manganese, 10% cobalt, and 80% nickel.
What does all of this mean for those of us waiting who will likely receive I.D. 4s built in the US? SK has a stronger track record than LG when it comes to making batteries that are error-free (Chevy Bolt used LG batteries). It seems that the id.4, which is made in the US, might get a performance and battery capacity upgrade!
The source of VW’s lithium.
According to a statement on its website, Volkswagen and Vulcan Energy Resources have inked a contract for the delivery of CO2-neutral lithium from Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley.
According to the contract, supply of lithium hydroxide will begin in 2026 and last for five years.
According to the manufacturer, the device will help Volkswagen satisfy its demand for future internal cell production in Germany and throughout Europe.
VW will buy between 34,000 and 42,000 metric tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide, claims Vulcan.
Through the establishment of a sustainable and local source of lithium from Europe’s largest deposit, the Zero Carbon Lithium project
According to VW, Vulcan is planning to use a local and lithium-rich geothermal brine to generate CO2-free lithium in the Upper Rhine Valley.
“A sustainable and local source of lithium from Europe’s largest deposit is what the company’s Zero Carbon Lithium initiative seeks to develop. The company claimed that neither fossil fuels nor evaporation ponds are necessary for the production process.
Yesterday saw the signing of the agreement between VW and Vulcan; Stellantis had done the same week earlier. The Stellantis Group will receive battery-grade lithium hydroxide from Vulcan in Europe for electric vehicles. According to the five-year contract, shipments will begin in 2026.
Vulcan’s Zero Carbon Lithium Project, according to Stellantis “reduces the production of carbon in the battery metals supply chain by using geothermal energy to generate battery-quality lithium hydroxide from brine without the use of fossil fuels and with little water use.
It will buy 81,000 to 99,000 metric tonnes of lithium hydroxide suitable for batteries.
What factory produces VW id4 batteries?
At the Volkswagen car facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the ID.4 electric crossover SUV is currently being produced. It’s the company’s first electric vehicle to be produced in the US and suggests that an ID.4 that costs less is soon to come.
Later this year, VW says it will increase production at its Chattanooga plant to 7,000 vehicles per month, with the intention of producing even more vehicles per month in 2023. In October 2022, the first customer deliveries are anticipated.
Since its introduction in 2021, 190,000 ID.4s have been delivered to customers worldwide, making it the most well-liked EV produced by VW. Herbert Diess, the departing CEO of Volkswagen, stated in May 2022 that the business has “essentially sold out on electric vehicles in Europe and the United States for the year.” Diess is leaving his position in September.
VW claimed that beginning manufacturing of the ID.4 in Chattanooga should help with its supply issues.
Starting ID.4 production in Chattanooga, according to VW, should help with its supply issues. According to a company spokeswoman, there are “a significant amount of reservations for the ID.4 now, and localized assembly should assist us to fulfill those orders.
This news is important for several reasons, including pricing. The base model ID.4 was originally expected to cost $40,000 when it was first released in 2020, however the price eventually increased to $41,230. The company stated that it wanted the starting price of its ID.4s produced in the US to be $35,000, or $27,500 with the federal tax credit. However, it’s unclear whether that is still the case because a VW spokeswoman stated that price will be disclosed shortly.
In contrast to the more expensive 82kWh battery models that will be available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the less expensive ID.4 will have a 62kWh battery. In comparison to the larger battery packs, which offer a range of about 250 miles, the 62kWh versions will probably have a more limited range.
LG Chem of South Korea originally created the battery pack for the ID.4, which consists of 288 pouch cells organized into 12 modules. However, as of late, SK Innovation, a different South Korean business that recently established a $2 billion factory close to VW’s plant there, has been supplying batteries to VW.
Volkswagen also emphasizes the use of parts produced in other US states, such as steel in Alabama and Ohio, interior components in South Carolina and Indiana, and electrical parts in Kentucky and North Carolina. The ID.4 and Atlas SUVs are in great demand from customers, and VW’s Chattanooga plant is actively employing more than 1,000 more employees through 2022, according to VW.
A VW battery should last for how long?
Battery life for VW Golfs is typically three to five years, however it might vary based on factors including driving style, battery type, and weather.
Does VW require unique batteries?
Genuine VW Batteries are uniquely crafted to satisfy the precise power needs of your sophisticated VW model as well as the technological requirements of today’s European-engineered cars, unlike any other battery on the market.
What does a VW car battery cost?
How much would a new battery cost for my Volkswagen? Prices for a replacement automobile battery varies from roughly $45 to $250 depending on power, size, and quality.
Does ID4 come from China?
Three electric motor configurations are available for the ID.4 on the European market. A 52 kWh battery pack powers the variants with 146 hp (148 PS; 109 kW) or 168 hp (170 PS; 125 kW), while a bigger 77 kWh battery powers the version with 201 hp (204 PS; 150 kW) and a WLTP range of “up to” 323 mi (520 km) on a single charge. [27] The fastest model in the lineup can sprint to 1100 km/h (062 mph) in 8.5 seconds. [28] [29]
An ID.4 with all-wheel drive can reach speeds of 096 km/h (060 mph) in 5.7 seconds[25] and 0100 km/h (062 mph) in 6.2 seconds[24].
[24]
The ID.4 is made at the Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant in Germany, and beginning in 2022, it will also be constructed there.
[30]
How long does an electric car’s battery last?
You shouldn’t worry about replacing the battery before you’ve even purchased a new car because electric car batteries typically last around 10 years, with some lasting up to 20 years.
The battery pack could stop taking charge if you leave your battery flat and your car unattended (this is known as bricking), however many EVs, like the New MG ZS EV, have features that stop the battery from completely draining.
It’s possible that the battery loses capacity over time. This is normal and frequently the result of prolonged use. Consult your warranty first if there is a battery issue.
As a result, the answer to the issue of how long do electric car batteries last is that the batteries are expected to last roughly 10 years.
How long does a Tesla’s battery last?
The typical range of a Tesla car’s battery is 336 miles per charge. The Model 3 has the shortest range (267 miles), while the Model S has the highest range (405 miles). There is no guarantee that your Tesla will achieve the exact range mentioned below because these are stated mileage averages by Tesla. The battery life of your Tesla will vary depending on the weather and your driving habits.
Teslas come in a variety of ranges on a fully charged battery, with more and more options available every year:
How long do Tesla batteries last? Ranges by car model
When compared to other electric cars on the market, all of these Tesla models have remarkable ranges. With Tesla’s expanding nationwide network of chargers, you can even use the majority of these vehicles on extended road trips and feel reasonably secure going where you need to go.
The Model 3 will function perfectly for a daily commuter but may require recharging every few days. Both Model S options provide plenty of range for extended road journeys, allowing you to reach your destination without having to stop at Superchargerssuper-fast charging stationsfar too frequently.