Carmakers Accelerate Affordable EV Development in Response to Chinese Competition

In a significant shift driven by the burgeoning market of inexpensive Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), legacy automakers worldwide are rapidly adjusting their strategies. Their new focus: developing more affordable EVs, a movement necessitated by the looming threat of losing market share to Chinese manufacturers.

Andy Palmer, chairman of UK startup Brill Power and former CEO of Aston Martin, highlighted this urgency. Brill Power, known for enhancing EV battery management systems, claims their technology can increase EV range by 60% and allow for smaller, less expensive batteries. This innovation is crucial as the battery remains the most costly component of an EV.

Renault recently announced a bold plan to reduce the costs of its EVs by 40%, aiming to achieve price parity with fossil-fuel models. Similarly, Stellantis is joining forces with China’s CATL to produce economical LFP batteries and has introduced the Citroen e-C3 SUV, starting at 23,300 euros ($24,500). Meanwhile, giants like Volkswagen and Tesla are not far behind, with plans to roll out EVs around the 25,000-euro mark.

Palo Alto’s OneD Battery Sciences is contributing to this cost-cutting race by enhancing graphite EV battery anodes with silicon nanowires. This technology not only boosts range and reduces charging time but also brings down the cost significantly. OneD’s approach, which also reduces battery weight by 20%, has attracted attention from major players like General Motors.

German-based Veekim is making strides in EV motor technology, developing motors using ferrite instead of rare earths, thereby reducing dependency on China-dominated rare earths and cutting costs by 20%. These motors, which are being tested by five automakers and suppliers, present a significant cost advantage over traditional designs.

The pressure to reduce costs extends beyond startups. NXP, a chip manufacturer, is working with automakers to minimize the number of electronic control units in EVs. Siemens has developed ‘digital twins’ software simulations to halve the costly EV development time.

European automakers are reacting swiftly to the influx of lower-cost Chinese EVs, such as BYD’s Dolphin hatchback, which undercuts competitors like VW’s ID.3 by nearly 30%. In the U.S., the Inflation Reduction Act provides some shield against Chinese imports, yet companies like GM and Ford are also striving for more cost-effective EV solutions. GM, for instance, is developing a new, less expensive battery pack for its revamped Bolt EV, set to launch two years earlier than initially planned.

High-end automakers are not immune to this trend. Michigan’s Our Next Energy (ONE) is working on an “Ares” battery pack using economical LFP technology, offering the same range but cutting the price almost in half from $130/kwh to $75/kwh. Their “Gemini” pack, aimed at luxury brands like BMW, promises extended range at significantly reduced costs.

Innovations extend to production processes as well. CelLink of San Carlos, California, raised substantial investment for its technology that replaces traditional wire harnesses with laminate sheets, allowing for robot-assisted installations and reducing labor costs.

Finally, Israeli startup Addionics is introducing a groundbreaking approach with their porous, three-dimensional copper and aluminum electrodes for batteries. While these electrodes enhance charging speed and range, the most significant attraction for automakers is the cost savings – up to $7.50 per kWh.

As the EV market heats up, the message from automakers is clear: the race for more affordable electric vehicles is on, and the drive for innovation is stronger than ever.

Source:

https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/fear-cheap-chinese-evs-spurs-automaker-dash-affordable-cars-2023-12-08/