Volkswagen Outlines Electric Future with Power Day
The Volkswagen (Voltswagen) Group executives laid out short-term and long-term plans as the company invests in developing EV technology.
Power Day
Earlier this month, VW Group hosted a virtual presentation to outline the manufacturer's electric vehicle development goals for the coming decade. More specifically, the 'Power Day' presentation was focused primarily on plans for the next generation of batteries, as well as building the infrastructure for manufacturing and charging networks.
The Unified Battery Cell
The VW executives spoke about rolling out of their new Unified Battery Cell. Going into production starting in 2023, the prismatic cell-type battery is set to be used in 80% of VW Group's EVs by 2030. The other 20% of the company's production will consist of more unique, special use cases such as heavy-duty commercial vehicles and high-performance cars.
Sustainability, Cutting Cost
The company also plans to cut the cost of these batteries by 50% in entry-level products and 30% in the volume segment. They are also aiming for up to 95% recyclability in the near future. In the meantime, they still maintain a goal to increase battery capacity and driving range. The first vehicles to receive the new battery technology will be Audi products.
Bidirectional Charging
two-directional charging will be enabled on VW products that are based on the MEB platform. This means that not only will the car be able to receive electricity from charging outlets, but the electricity stored in the vehicle's battery will also be able to power external appliances. It could even serve as a reserve in case of power loss, for a short bit anyway.
Solid-State Battery
With the development of the solid-state battery, Volkswagen is aiming to significantly increase battery efficiency. Set to be in production by 2025, solid-state batteries will provide weight savings and they take up less space. The liquid-free system is projected to allow for 30% faster charging as well.
Expanding Charging Networks
Partnering with several fuel companies across Europe and the United States, VW plans to rapidly increase the number of its charging stations worldwide. There are plans in place to have 18,000 fast-charging stations in Europe, more than five times the number available today. And the company's US charging station partner, Electrify America plans to have 800 stations ready Stateside, with a goal of 3,500 by 2023.
