JANUARY 10, 2022

Making Battery Packs Better: Industry Eyes Key Targets for 2025

SPECIAL REPORT
Industry insiders see battery packs getting lighter and playing a bigger role in the structural rigidity of the vehicle as automakers push for longer ranges, faster charging and lower costs for next-gen battery-electric vehicles on the way by the middle of the decade. Here’s results of our industry study.

Chevy Silverado Charges into BEV World

General Motors will launch two versions of the Silverado EV next year: an RST trim priced over $100,000 and a fleet-focused WT at $39,900. Range is estimated at 400 miles, a clever Avalanche-like mid-gate will come standard on RST, and initial tow rating is pegged at up to 10,000 lbs.

General Motors, Ford Wage War Over Battery-Electric Future

Here’s the timeline I see unfurling: Ford is winning the first round in the EV war with General Motors. It will probably hold onto that lead through 2022 and maybe 2023. But in 2024 GM will surge ahead as its strategic plan fully blossoms.

Mercedes-Benz BEV Concept Measures the Miles (Per kWh)

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
In a world full of BEVs offering 3-4 miles per kWh, the Mercedes-Benz Vision EQXX registers a stunning 6.2 miles per kWh, giving the vehicle more than 600 miles of range from a sub-100-kWh battery.

Chrysler Unveils Airflow Concept BEV at CES 2022

The Airflow Concept integrates advanced driver-assistance technology with intuitive AI and connected-vehicle technology that delivers 350 to 400 miles (564 to 644 km) of range and fast-charging functionality, Chrysler says. STLA AutoDrive delivers Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities.

Toyota: $70 Billion for Electrification; Li-Cycle Ups Recycling Capacity; Paper Batteries?

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
Toyota ups its BEV lineup but still is keeping ICEs around, while a Canadian recycler is expanding a facility and paper batteries that biodegrade in a month are developed.

Bosch Touts Software Transformation at CES

Artificial intelligence will form the backbone of how Bosch’s future products work and are made, a top executive says.

ZF Pushes Further Into ADAS, Shuttles, BEV Tech

ZF announces it will supply VinFast BEVs with Level 2+ ADAS technology, finds strong U.S. demand for autonomous shuttles and is launching high-voltage silicon-carbide inverters for a production battery-electric vehicle this fall.

Autonomous Vehicles From Hype to Reality: Market Strategies and Early Applications

For Wards Intelligence Subscribers
Companies and investors are pumping billions of dollars into the autonomous-vehicle sector for the chance to score big in this nascent market. Early movers are getting a jump on the competition with partnerships, pilot projects and pilot production. Our industry survey provides insight into what industry leaders are planning for AVs in the next 10 years.