Technology prices standing in the way of EVs

Even with its electric SUV on the way, Audi warns that the cost of developing the electric vehicles its customers want doesn’t necessarily add up

Most customers demand a range of at least 300 miles before they’ll consider making the switch to plug-in power

John Calne

19 October 2015

Audi has warned that the latest lightweight materials are too expensive to be used in mass-produced cars.

A senior insider from the company’s engineering team told us that most customers demand a range of at least 300 miles before they’ll consider making the switch to plug-in power. But the size and weight of a battery pack capable of achieving this comes with its own challenges.

‘Batteries are heavy,’ said our source. ’So it makes sense to reduce the weight of the car. But with all weight-reduction materials, you have to look at the costs and how you bring the materials together in the factory.

‘We need a lot of know-how to do that. And it’s expensive.’

Audi’s first all-electric car will be a large SUV based on the e-tron quattro concept. ‘You need a big car for the batteries to realise 300 miles,’ our source commented. ‘And if you have a big battery pack in a big car, it is going to need to be priced appropriately.’

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Technology prices standing in the way of EVs

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