Batteries for electric cars: Volkswagen inaugurates its production in Germany, Tesla ready to follow suit

If you have ever experienced the anxiety of breaking down on a deserted road, with an electric car looking at you like a sad little puppy, then the new Volkswagen factory in Salzgitter should give you a bit of hope. Yes, my friends, the German automotive giant has finally decided to get in line and produce its own batteries for electric cars. Because after all, why depend on external suppliers when one can do it oneself, sweating away and holding one’s head high, like a good old-fashioned builder?

Production in Germany has started with an announced capacity of 20 GWh per year. Yes, 20 gigawatt-hours — a term that sounds as technical as something you might hear in a science fiction movie, but in reality, it’s just enough to power no less than 250,000 electric vehicles. I know, it’s dreamy! Who would have thought that one day we would have cars that, instead of roaring like a lion, would simply make a soft electric sound, almost like a little hamster on its hamster wheel?

A production worthy of the energy transition

The true star of this show in Salzgitter is the famous “unified cell.” Imagine an automotive plug-and-play that could save the electric automotive industry from flat boredom. These cells, ladies and gentlemen, are designed to be used by all the brands of the Volkswagen group, making their production more efficient. A bit like a café that offers the same machine to all its customers to reduce waiting time — very Polish, isn’t it?

Of course, this new approach is part of a broader upheaval: the quest for independence from Asian suppliers, notably Chinese ones. How can one justify dependencies at a historical moment where industrial sovereignty is at the forefront? Ultimately, Volkswagen is reclaiming a bit of German pride here; perhaps the firesale of the past few years is finally coming to an end.

And what about Tesla?

And as if that weren't enough, Tesla does not intend to sit idly by in the face of this advancement. Oh no, not at all! Elon Musk, that modern magician, has already planned to start manufacturing his own electric batteries in Grünheide, near Berlin. Even though it starts slowly, with a capacity of 8 GWh, he hopes this will allow him to produce 2,000 electric vehicles per week. Yes, less than Volkswagen, but one cannot expect to have exactly the same success as the giant, can one?

The fact is that with this initiative, Tesla seems determined to strengthen its autonomy, freeing itself from its dependence on Asian giants like CATL and LG. The war for batteries for electric vehicles is underway — will you soon see a couscous with batteries recipe as a daily special in a trendy restaurant? Who knows!

Nevertheless, all this does raise questions. Between the promise of an automotive energy transition and the realities of the market, what will really happen? And will Volkswagen’s ability to achieve its electric hybridization goal be satisfactory?

Let’s shake it all up with a little dose of sarcasm. If making sure one has enough batteries to avoid stopping to recharge becomes the new luxury on the road, then who will have the final word: Volkswagen with its handy factory or Tesla with its eternal Californian flair?

There’s only one thing left to do: pour a pint and watch this rhythmic dance of technological innovations unfold. 2025 is likely to be a year to remember, a new chapter in the history of the electric automotive industry being written before our eyes, I promise.

Source: www.automobile-propre.com

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