DPA
Battery of a smart electric car: Three consortiums will in future produce lithium-ion cells in Germany
Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier has last for his industrial strategy a lot of criticism plug in have to. With a central project in the course of this strategy the CDU man obviously advances: So Altmaier wants to pave the way for the construction of a gigantic battery cell production and thus create the basis for a broad swing of the car industry towards electric drive. That should be the main topic on Monday evening Car summit in the chancellery become.
For years, the German automakers and suppliers have rather watched than acted on a central component of electric cars: in the production of battery cells for electric cars, the Japanese and now the Chinese suppliers first emerged. Although German companies have attempted to produce cells on an industrial scale, they either failed to do so in Kamenz like Daimler or, like Bosch, decided against it for cost reasons.
That’s why the German carmakers are now buying their cells for the upcoming electric car models from Asian manufacturers – which of course also means that a larger part of the added value is going towards Asia. This new dependence disturbs not only works councils with car manufacturersbut also politics up to the EU level. The EU Commission has set up a roadmap for the year 2023 with the so-called “European Battery Alliance”. Up to ten cell factories the size of Tesla’s “Gigafactory” will need European automakers, it says. The race for the giant battery plants has long since begun,
The largest car manufacturers in the EU are now in Germany – and Altmaier is now going strong. One billion euros in subsidies The Minister of Economy has promised to build up the battery cell production. By mid-March, consortia could apply for funding, seven applications have been received – despite all the skepticism of the auto industry, whether and how the cell production can count.
Altmaier does not want to let the cat out of the bag
At the beginning of May, Altmaier, together with his French counterpart Bruno Le Maire, presented the first consortium, which will receive fundingIn addition to the carmaker PSA (Peugeot, Citroen, Opel), the German-French joint venture also includes Siemens and the German battery specialist Manz. “Other consortia will follow,” said Altmaier at that time.
Now his ministry has apparently committed to two more candidates. In addition to the consortium of Opel, Peugeot and Total’s subsidiary Saft, two other consortia are “close to deciding to set up battery manufacturing facilities,” says Altmaier. This explained Altmaier to the “Stuttgarter Zeitung” and the “Stuttgarter Nachrichten”. Altmaier had made similar statements last Thursday – probably not quite a few days before the today held “car summit” in the Federal Chancellery.
Altmaier also showed his motivation for the promotion to the two Stuttgart media. According to Altmaier, one has to make sure that the new added value associated with e-cars takes place in Germany. “There will be a huge demand for electric batteries, all coming from Japan, Korea and China,” Altmaier continued. “We must have the ambition to build the best batteries in the world in Germany and Europe.”
Compared to the ARD Morgenmagazin, Altmaier came up with a more catchy phrase: “There will only be one solution if we become world champions in the construction of environmentally friendly, sustainable vehicles with which we can achieve our CO2-climate goals,” Altmaier explained.
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