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As part of the first Power Day event, the Volkswagen Group presented its roadmap for technological development in the field of batteries and charging solutions in the period up to 2030. The main goals of the long-term development program are to significantly reduce the technological complexity and production cost of batteries, which in turn will make electric vehicles a more attractive and realistic opportunity for as wide a range of users as possible.
At the same time, Volkswagen will strive to ensure a secure supply of battery cells in the period after 2025. In Europe alone, six giga-factories with a total production capacity of 240 GWh are to be built by the end of the decade. The Volkswagen Group will also vigorously strive to expand its public network of fast charging stations worldwide.
The first two plants will operate in the Swedish city of Skelleftea and in the German city of Salzgitter. In response to increased demand, Volkswagen has decided to reorient its current plan for battery production and to concentrate the production of its premium cells at the Northvolt Ett giga factory in the Swedish city of Schelefteo in cooperation with the local company Northvolt. Production of these cells should begin in 2023 and will gradually expand to an annual capacity of up to 40 GWh.
The gigafactory, which currently works for Volkswagen in the German city of Salzgitter, will start production of the unified battery cell for the mass market segment with large production volumes in 2025, will develop and implement a number of innovations in the production process, construction and cell chemistry. Salzgitter also plans to produce battery cells with a total energy value of up to 40 GWh per year.
Volkswagen’s offensive in the field of batteries is accompanied by a large-scale expansion of the network of fast charging stations. Together with its partners, in the period until 2025 the company intends to take over the management of a network of about 18,000 public fast charging stations throughout Europe. The move will represent a fivefold expansion of the existing network of fast charging stations and is expected to cover about a third of the continent’s projected total demand by 2025.
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