German auto giants Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen accelerate battery production plans

Following news this week that Ford has partnered with Redwood Materials to secure future battery component supply chains, we have an announcement from Daimler that Mercedes-Benz has secured a 33 percent stake in Automotive Cells Company (ACC), a battery cell manufacturer with a presence in France. The stake is estimated to be worth around $1.2 billion USD ($1.65 billion AUD).

Stellantis and French petroleum company TotalEnergies own 33 percent each. Automotive News Europe reports Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Kaellenius has said “the purpose of the partnership is to develop cells and battery modules and “help ensure that Europe remains at the heart of the auto industry — even in an electric era.”

Mercedes-Benz will provide technology and production expertise to the ACC partnership, and aims to manufacture at least 120 Gigawatt hours of cell capacity by the end of the decade with its partners. The company is moving towards a modular, standardised battery “kit” that allows battery cells and modules from different manufacturers to easily fit with its range of components and interfaces.

High energy density, performance and charging power are key benchmarks for the project according to Daimler. ACC will primarily use renewable energy for its production facilities, and the batteries themselves will be over 95 percent recyclable.

ACC’s first new factory will be located in Northern France, and plans to be operational by 2023.

A rendering of JAC Volkswagen’s Hefei battery production facility. Image: Volkswagen

Volkswagen powers ahead in China

Meanwhile, Chinese joint venture Jianghuai Automobile Group/Volkswagen (JAC Volkswagen) will also have a new battery factory operational by 2023, located in Hefei city. Automotive News Europe states that the factory's initial capacity will be 150,000 to 180,000 battery systems a year.

This is the fourth battery factory in the works for the Wolfsburg automaker, with plants in Brunswick and Salzgitter Germany coming online in the next couple of years. A battery factory in Chattanooga, TN and at Volkswagen technology partner Northvolt’s Skellefteå plant should also be operational by 2023. Volkswagen plans to produce unified, modular cells like Mercedes-Benz for its scalable MEB platform architecture, and has flagged an annual capacity of up to 180,000 battery systems from its Hefei plant.

“With a significant increase of battery-electric vehicles in the future, we need to focus on keeping key components like battery systems in our own value chain, allowing us to leverage Group-wide synergies and innovations” says Stephan Wöllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Group China. He goes on to say that “Volkswagen Anhui and VW Anhui Components Company, alongside our two strong Joint Ventures, are crucial to our electrification strategy and to achieving our goal of the Volkswagen Group China fleet reaching over 40% NEVs by 2030”.

Sources: Daimler, Automotive News Europe

First look at Volkswagen's upcoming ID.5 GTX electric SUV coupe

Personally, I hate the “SUV coupe” nomenclature that has sprung up over the last few years, but the industry seems to have adopted it with vigour. Traditionally, the term coupe came from a four-wheeled vehicle that could hold two passengers. In the mid-20th century, it came to define desirable, low-roofed sports cars that could carry two passengers comfortably, and four at a pinch.

Are they pointless? Perhaps. after all, the whole point of an SUV is to carry more stuff and more bodies over a wagon or sedan right? Are they going anywhere? absolutely not.

And so it goes with the Volkswagen Group. We’ve seen Audi introduce various Q3/Q5/Q8 sloping-roof-coupe-things to much sales success; Porsche lopped the back off its Cayenne to produce the Cayenne Coupe, and now we have the group’s first all-electric coupe SUV variant.

The ID.5 range will include this range-topping GTX model, sharing the same dual-motor AWD setup as its ID.4 GTX sibling, as well as it’s 77 kWh (net) battery. Volkswagen claims a 250 mile (402 km) range. A single-motor rear wheel drive variant will also be available.

Volkswagen has faced a slow start to sales of its electric ID range in China, however sales in Europe have eclipsed the likes of Kia’s Niro EV, the Skoda Enyaq, Volvo XC40 Recharge and its sister ID.3 electric hatch, and sales in North America must be pleasing Wolfsburg; the ID.4 made up 4.8 per cent of Volkswagen North America’s total sales in Q2 2021.

Autogefühl already has a first drive impression video which you can watch below, and Volkswagen has provided additional exterior driving footage.

Expect a full reveal during Munich’s IAA Mobility 2021 on September 5.

Source: Volkswagen

Volkswagen reveals dual motor all wheel drive ID.4 GTX; more performance EV models to come [Updated]

Volkswagen has debuted the new GTX sub-brand, and headline vehicle the ID.4 GTX. Currently livestreaming, we will update this page with more information.

[Updated] GTX will be a sub brand to follow the nomenclature GTI, GTD and GTE. The ID.4 GTX offers sportier styling with revised front and rear bumpers, and new LED headlights and tail lights. 21 inch wheels give the car character, but likely reduce available range.

The ID.4 GTX offers a 77 kWh battery (same as ID.4) and sports two electric motors with up to 220 kW. Volkswagen claims a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 6.2 seconds, and a WLTP range of 480 km (290 miles).

There’s a 125 kW DC charging speed, and Volkswagen claims 300km (186 mile) range can be charged in 30 minutes. It’s worth noting that Hyundai’s new Ioniq 5 with 400 and 800 volt architecture offers 10-80 percent charge in 18 minutes, with 100km range restored in 5 minutes.

Volkswagen also previewed a camouflaged ID.5 coupe-SUV and announced that it too would receive the GTX treatment:

Volkswagen's 2020 "Project Trinity" promises step change in EV range and charging

Volkswagen has announced that they are working on a cutting-edge electric saloon to be built in Wolfsburg from 2026. Expected to be similar in size to the company’s Arteon fastback saloon, Volkswagen promises ”new standards in terms of range, charging speed and digitization—as well as being able to drive highly automated according to Level 4.”

Based on the company’s MEB electric vehicle architecture, the Project Trinity EV should feature advanced vehicle autonomy and connectivity systems.

According to Volkswagen, the project name Trinity is derived from the Latin “trinitas” and stands for the tri-unity. Accordingly, Trinity stands for three crucial themes: a newly developed electronics platform with state-of-the-art software, the simplification of the supply structure, and fully networked and intelligent production at the main plant in Wolfsburg.

Volkswagen claims the newly developed vehicle architecture will set standards in terms of range, digitalization and charging speed, with the aim of Project Trinity to allow customers to charge as fast as traditional refueling.

By the planned start of series production in 2026, it is anticipated that Trinity will reach Level 2+ and be technically ready for Level 4.

“We are using our economies of scale to make autonomous driving available to many people and to build a learning neural network. In this way, we are creating the conditions for the continuous exchange of data from our vehicle fleet—for example, on the traffic situation, on obstacles or on accidents,” says Ralf Brandstätter. Trinity thus gives people time and saves them stress. After a long highway trip, you arrive at your destination relaxed. Because you have been driven by a chauffeur to your vacation or to your home after work. “Trinity therefore becomes a kind of 'time machine' for our customers,” says Ralf Brandstätter.

With the production of the series version, the Wolfsburg plant will become a showcase for state-of-the-art, intelligent and fully networked production processes. “We will completely rethink the way we build cars and introduce revolutionary approaches. Digitalization, automation and lightweight construction play an important role here,” says Ralf Brandstätter.

Future vehicle models such as Trinity will be produced with considerably fewer variants, and the hardware will be largely standardized. The cars will then have virtually everything on board and customers will be able to activate desired functions “on demand” at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car. This will significantly reduce complexity in production.

By developing the automobile into a software-based product, Volkswagen is creating the conditions for new, data-based business models. Entry barriers to individual mobility are to be lowered, while at the same time offering even more attractive usage packages. Volkswagen intends to generate additional revenue in the usage phase—for charging and energy services, for software-based functions that customers can book as needed, or for automated driving. “In the future, the individual configuration of the vehicle will no longer be determined by the hardware at the time of purchase. Instead, customers will be able to add functions on demand at any time via the digital ecosystem in the car,” says Ralf Brandstätter.

According to Inside EVs, Volkswagen clarified some issues with what Ralf Brandstätter told Welt Am Sonntag in an interview about Trinity. The Volkswagen brand’s CEO stated to the German newspaper the Trinity would be around 4 meters (158 inches) long and cost about €35,000.

Volkswagen told InsideEVs there was a mistake in the quote. It should be “more than 4 meters.” According to the company, the car will be similar in size to the ID.4, with a length between 4.5 m (177 in) and 4.7 m (185 in).