Eco Factor: 18650-type lithium-ion cells could lead to EVs with a range of more than 500 miles.
If Martin Eberhard, the electric vehicle engineering director at Volkswagen’s Electronics Research Laboratory (ERL) in Palo Alto, California is to be believed, we could hope to see electric vehicles with a range of more than 500 miles within the next 10 years. The ERL focuses mainly on the development of new driver assistance systems and new human-machine interface technologies. It also looks into improving the multimedia functionality and connectivity of Volkswagen Group cars.
The ERL’s biggest project projects at the moment are the development of the lithium-ion battery packs for Volkswagen’s Blue-e-motion Golf, the E-Up city car and the Audi e-tron. The ‘18650’-type lithium-ion cells are what they are working with and see it as the future of green transport. This battery develops faster than any other battery and using them can provide benefit from state-of-the-art technology.
Earlier the battery used by ERL in the original Audi e-tron prototype offered 60kWh of power and a range of just over 150 miles. But, by replacing it with 3.4 amp-hour cells, the car is expected to have 100kWh power and a range of nearly 300 miles on a single charge. With this progress rate, Mr. Eberhard expects to have EVs with greater than 500 miles of operational range, within 10 years time frame.
Via: AutoCar
