Volkswagen’s new 'unified cell' could slash EV prices: Here’s what’s new with it

Volkswagen's new unified cell, which has been developed in conjunction with its subsidiary PowerCo to standardise battery cell design, will soon be launched in the market. The German manufacturer had recently revealed its production-ready examples. These new kinds of EV cells are set to make their debut in the company’s Electric Urban Car Family, in cars that would be launched with Volkswagen, Skoda, and Cupra badges.

This new cell, which would soon be up for use in 80% of Volkswagen Group brands, is claimed to be a big leap forward in cell design. The cell would have an energy density of up to 660 Wh per litre of volume. The new battery installation is helped by a cell-to-pack basis and does away with the intermediate stage of packing cells in modules before installing into a battery pack. The aim with this battery pack is to achieve a range of 280 miles and a charging time of under 25 minutes, depending upon the cell chemistry used.

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The new cell design can accommodate different chemistries, including LFP (lithium iron phosphate), and the “F” representing the ferrous material for the cathode. As per VW, the new cell design can lead to standardisation that would lead to huge economies of scale in both cells and whole battery systems.

If this new kind of battery is to succeed, the cost of EVs would reduce, as batteries account for the majority of the cost of an EV vehicle, so cheaper batteries would lead to cheaper cars. Sodium-ion-based batteries’ biggest drawback has always been their lower energy density than lithium-ion, but with new development, these new elements are improving.

Sodium-ion batteries have the potential for a cleaner carbon footprint during their lifetime, and these new changes can help manufacturers lead into a new dynamic for EV vehicles. Volkswagen has further pointed out that the state of development does not allow for serial production.

According to Volkswagen, the test vehicle is an intermediate step between laboratory research and industrial implementation. In the coming months, a race-ready motorcycle will be built for further testing. The goal with this new tech is to be able to bring out a marketable solution by the end of the decade.