Volkswagen has developed a standardized Unified Cell battery format with its subsidiary PowerCo, which will debut in the group's Electric Urban Car Family across Volkswagen, Skoda and Cupra models.
Volkswagen says the Unified Cell achieves up to 660 Wh per litre—about a 10% energy-density improvement—and uses a cell-to-pack layout that removes modules to improve packaging efficiency. Autocar test drove a prototype of the VW ID Polo in December last year.
The Unified Cell can accommodate LFP, NMC and sodium-ion chemistries, and Chinese battery maker CATL recently began mass production of sodium-ion cells.
Volkswagen expects the standardized format to drive economies of scale in cells and battery systems, reducing the battery’s roughly 40% share of an EV's cost and helping bring cheaper urban EVs to market; sodium-ion also offers lower raw-material cost and stronger lifecycle emissions credentials.
This article is based on reporting from AutoCar.
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