Battery Strategies for German Car Manufacturers

Dusseldorf, Munich New technology should make batteries for electric Porsche models even more powerful in the future. Thanks to innovative silicon anodes, batteries can store up to 50 percent of energy and therefore a greater range in the future – initially in today’s common lithium-ion batteries, and within a few years also in solid-state models. The batteries are being developed by the American manufacturer Group 14, in which Porsche has now also acquired a share.

Volkswagen, the parent company of Porsche, and other major German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW are working their way into the future of battery technology. They are pursuing completely different strategies for purchasing central batteries for their electric vehicles.

VW builds its own battery cell plants together with partners. Mercedes researches its own cells, but manufactures them by the battery cell manufacturers in which the company owns a stake, and then assembles them into the same battery packs. BMW owns the cells produced by external partners entirely, but is looking into its further development itself.