Tag: VW

Electric car battery research pact seeks to keep German auto prowess

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VW Battery Packs
For the past 50 years, the German auto industry has enjoyed quite the roll of growth and success in the U.S., built largely on its expertise with one specific technology: the internal combustion engine.

But now the importance of that advantage is fading, with electric cars on the rise and the highest-value component within them the battery pack.

Increasingly, companies with headquarters in South Korea, Japan, and China—not Germany—have taken the lead not just on cells and chemistry but in the design of modules and sometimes the entire pack architecture. Meanwhile Volkswagen, for instance, has said that it’s currently developing its final platforms focused around internal combustion engines.

DON’T MISS: German automakers commit to massive battery purchases, sidestep some hard realities

Volkswagen and the Swedish battery supplier Northvolt yesterday announced that they have joined forces to conduct research activities that, VW says, “will cover the entire battery value stream—from raw materials through cell technology to recycling.”

2019 Audi e-tron battery pack

The consortium, called the European Battery Union, will also include the manufacturing stage, resulting in “allowing sustainable, climate friendly and competitive battery cell production in the European Union,” states a release from the automaker, noting that the effort “could receive financial support from funding announced by the German government.”

CHECK OUT: VW confirms it’s planning for solid-state batteries by 2025

Germany has already earmarked $1.14 billion to support battery cell production, according to Reuters, with plans to fund a facility aimed at developing the solid-state battery technology that may start to become common in the later part of the next decade.

Joint research done through European Battery Union will start next year and be exchanged across partners. It's not indicated whether there's any limit on the number of partners, but with most such alliances, the more the merrier.

READ MORE: Report: Battery production could offset emissions gains from electric cars

This is in addition to the European Battery Alliance, a project launched by the European Commission in October 2017, with intent to create a competitive and sustainable battery cell manufacturing value chain. The Alliance has estimated that bringing the EU to a lead role in battery-cell manufacturing could create four to five million jobs.

Consumption values: Porsche is testing further models for test irregularities

Porsche AG The luxury car manufacturer wants to take a closer look at exhaust emissions tests. (Photo: AP) StuttgartAccording to the indications of possibly incorrect fuel consumption in the 911er Porsche even more models under the microscope. This was confirmed by a spokesman on Friday on demand. Earlier, the “mirror” reported that the car maker… Continue reading Consumption values: Porsche is testing further models for test irregularities

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Rüsselsheim brawls

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Germany’s plan with the “Malocher mentality”

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Next Generation Car: The vehicle of the future is modular

A vehicle needs a cab and a drive. But do they both have to be a single unit? Researcher of the DLR work on different concepts for that automobile the future. One of them is a modular vehicle that can be used for a variety of purposes. from Werner Pluta March 22, 2019, 12:01 pm… Continue reading Next Generation Car: The vehicle of the future is modular

A European consortium to produce batteries is born

The great unresolved issue of mobility in Europe is the lack of development and production of batteries in the continent. Despite the consensus in the diagnosis of the problem, the initiatives that have been up to now have clashed with multiple trips. But now a new initiative has just broken through by creating an EU… Continue reading A European consortium to produce batteries is born

Skoda manufactures 500,000 units of the current Superb since 2015

Posted 03/22/2019 11: 28: 42CET KVASINY (CZECH REPUBLIC), 22 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) – The Skoda automotive brand has reached an accumulated production volume of 500,000 units of the third generation of the Superb in its Kvasiny factory, according to the company, which started in March 2015 the manufacture of this model. “With its design and… Continue reading Skoda manufactures 500,000 units of the current Superb since 2015

China has long arrived in Italy

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Alibaba, Tencent, car makers set up $1.5 billion China ride-hailing venture

BEIJING (Reuters) – Alibaba, Tencent, Suning, and car makers including Chongqing Changan Automobile have set up a $1.5 billion Chinese ride-hailing venture, a move that could test the dominance of ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing. FILE PHOTO: A man stands near the logo of Alibaba Group at the company’s newly-launched office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June… Continue reading Alibaba, Tencent, car makers set up $1.5 billion China ride-hailing venture

European Battery Union: Volkswagen founds European battery alliance

Companies from seven countries join forces under the leadership of VolkswagenGroup and Northvolt to the European Battery Union (EBU). This is how research on electricity storage systems should be promoted. March 22, 2019, 7:49 am, Andreas Donath VW worries about batteries. (Image: Werner Pluta / Golem.de) The Volkswagen Group and other European partners have founded… Continue reading European Battery Union: Volkswagen founds European battery alliance