Volkswagen revamps its EV strategy with new platform, cheaper batteries

Volkswagen is getting ready to make some big changes to its lineup of electric cars. Starting in 2026, the German automaker plans to introduce a new foundation for its EVs and switch to a different kind of battery technology. The goal? To cut costs and potentially make its electric vehicles even better.

The first model to receive these updates will be the Volkswagen ID.2, expected to arrive in 2026. This car will be the first from VW to use a lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP, battery. This type of battery is generally less expensive to make than the nickel-manganese-cobalt, or NMC, batteries commonly used in many electric cars today, including VW's current models.

After the ID.2 hits the road, Volkswagen will begin moving its other ID models onto an updated platform. This new base is called MEB Plus, an evolution of the current MEB platform that underpins VW's existing EVs like the ID.3, ID.4, and ID.7. As these models transition to the MEB Plus platform, they will also adopt the new LFP battery technology.

LFP batteries have become more popular in recent years. Car companies have found ways to improve their performance, boosting how far a car can go on a charge while still keeping the cost advantage over NMC packs. Companies like Tesla and Ford have already started using LFP batteries in some of their models. Volkswagen is now joining this trend, seeing LFP as the key technology for the majority of its electric cars. Thomas Schäfer, the head of Volkswagen, called the move to MEB Plus and LFP batteries a "major step forward" for the company in terms of cost and performance.

Volkswagen plans to build these new LFP batteries at its new factory in Salzgitter, Germany. This factory will eventually focus on the LFP packs, though it will still make some of the older NMC batteries for a while. While Volkswagen hasn't shared exact details on how far these new batteries will take their cars or how much cheaper they will be, the potential is there for EVs with longer range that cost less to buy.

Alongside the changes under the skin, Volkswagen is also planning a fresh look for its ID range. The aim is to give the ID models a more appealing and memorable style. This push for better design, combined with efforts to improve things like in-car software through partnerships, shows Volkswagen is working hard to make its electric cars more competitive and appealing to buyers everywhere.

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