Batteries are the most important part of any electric vehicle, they’re also the most expensive, and typically heaviest single component of an EV. The importance of these energy-storage systems cannot be understated. Any advancements made in the battery field could give one manufacturer a huge leg up over rivals. And the Volkswagen Group undoubtedly hopes the recent agreement it signed with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Company Ltd. (CATL), the world’s largest manufacturer of EV batteries, will do just that.
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A Deal To Build Better Batteries
According to a report from JustAuto.com, CATL and the German automaker’s China business unit “have agreed to strengthen their collaboration in the areas of battery research and development, new materials applications, and component development.” These two titanic firms are also working to build more cost-effective batteries, something that is critical to increasing the adoption rate of electric vehicles, which can be pricier than their combustion-powered rivals.
Aside from that, CATL and VW are working on other important topics related to EVs. The companies are aiming to develop vehicle-to-grid functionality, where electric vehicles could feed power back into the electrical grid at times of high demand or during power outages. CATL and VW are also endeavoring to increase the transparency of their raw materials supply chains, reduce carbon emissions, and even advance lithium-ion battery recycling capabilities, but that’s not all.
Battery Swapping Is On The Table, Too
Battery swapping is something these two firms are collaborating on as well. The ability to pull a pack out of an EV and almost immediately swap in a fully charged one could revolutionize electric vehicle ownership, making long-distance trips quicker – since you wouldn’t have to sit and wait for your vehicle to charge – and it could open up EV ownership opportunities for people that live in areas where they can’t install a Level 2 charger at home.
Of course, quick and easy battery swapping would not just work with road-going vehicles. This technology could also be applied to electric scooters, forklifts, airport tugs, or maybe even agricultural equipment.
Aside from its strengthened collaboration, the JustAuto.com report also indicates that VW’s Chinese joint venture companies have signed separate battery-sourcing agreements with CATL. This includes SAIC Volkswagen, FAW Volkswagen, and Volkswagen Anhui.
CATL is the largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer in the world right now, and this renewed partnership could give VW an edge over rival automakers. If the two companies are able to develop new battery chemistries, packs that require fewer exotic and expensive materials, or if can nail down battery swapping on a large scale, Volkswagen could pull ahead of its competition in the electric vehicle space.
