Production at Porsche
From 2024, Porsche could produce its own battery cells.
(Photo: dpa)
Düsseldorf Porsche is driving the development and production of its own high-performance battery cells for electric cars. The Volkswagen subsidiary claims to be setting up a joint venture with the cell specialist Customcells from Itzehoe and Tübingen.
Porsche is therefore investing a high double-digit million sum in the new Cellforce Group for a majority stake of a good 80 percent. The project was only recently submitted to the Federal Cartel Office for examination.
With the new unit, Porsche wants to position itself at the top of the global competition for the most powerful battery cell, the company said on Sunday. The traditional brand’s sports cars are to be converted to emission-free drive. The battery can be more compact and charge faster than the currently used batteries, it is said.
The new company will be based in Tübingen. The production facility should be near the Porsche headquarters in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and employ up to 80 people by 2025 at the latest. The factory will have a capacity of 100 megawatt hours per year, which corresponds to battery cells for 1,000 vehicles. Porsche boss Oliver Blume told “Welt am Sonntag” that production should start in 2024.
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Charging possible in 15 minutes
Porsche will use silicon for a higher energy density and a more compact battery. In an interview, Blume said that the new technology enables rapid charging in less than 15 minutes. The top-of-the-range Taycan Turbo S can currently be charged from five to 80 percent in a good 22 minutes. Porsche has so far obtained the cells for its first all-electric sports car from the Korean company LG Chem. Porsche plans to announce more details on the new project on Monday.
Porsche is by far the most profitable brand in the Volkswagen Group. The return on sales was over 16 percent in the first quarter. By 2030, Porsche wants to equip more than 80 percent of its sports cars with electric drives.
VW boss Herbert Diess had already pushed the group’s battery strategy in March. A total of six battery cell factories are to be built in Europe by 2030 to meet VW’s need for batteries. In addition to higher emission standards, the US competitor Tesla is also a key driver of VW’s electric offensive. Tesla is planning to set up the world’s largest cell production facility to date in Grünheide near Berlin, in addition to its e-car factory.
More: Tesla is serious about battery factory in Grünheide – Group applies for building permit
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