Watchout Toyota! VW, Audi (and maybe Porsche) aim to release Li-Ion batteries in 2010

[Rybold]

Watchout Toyota! Volkswagen, Audi (and maybe Porsche) aim to release Lithium-Ion batteries in 2010.

"Posted: May 28th, 2008. Volkswagen officially announced today that it has reached an agreement with Sanyo to work on what it calls a "new and extremely efficient high-performance storage system based on lithium-ion technology." Besides CEO Winterkorn talking about electrically powered automobiles and efficient engines, the press release stated two concept cars we have great interest in. The Volkswagen Golf TDI, seen at Geneva Motor Show this past March, and the Audi A1 metroproject quattro."

"Our focus in future," says Prof Martin Winterkorn, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, "will be directed more strongly at making electrically powered automobiles alongside ones driven by more efficient combustion engines." The A1 project quattro presented by Audi ... already designed to cover a distance of 100 km.

The Group hopes to be able to employ lithium-ion technology in its first vehicles by 2010."

VW’s first lithium-ion hybrid coming in 2010, will it be the Golf or A1?
.

[racerbob]

You can bet when VW/Audi introduces a hybrid or EV it will have some cutting edge technology. I have worked for the company and for Porsche for several decades and can tell you that their drivetrains are state of the art. Some have not been at Toyota reliability levels, but they are usually innovative and efficient.

[Ichiro]

Originally Posted by racerbob

Some have not been at Toyota reliability levels

A bit of an understatement!

[micheal]

Color me a cynic, but I will wait and see what VW actually does offer in 2010. VW has begun to appear a little like GM in the green marketing to me. Like there media blitz about the 70 mpg diesel hybrid Golf they were going to be releasing soon and was then canned two months later. Or the seemingly frequent releasing of UK or European mpg ratings that are often appear to be US ratings at first glance.

Granted only a little like GM since they have focused on smaller vehicles (interesting how they are really not that efficient compared to similar vehicles).

More competition is always good, so maybe they will come through on this one.

[Tideland Prius]

I thoguht the VW Group cancelled the Golf Hybrid and the Q7 Hybrid

[David Beale]

Yup, talk is much cheaper than actions! Just ask GM, Hyundai, Porche, etc., etc.!

"We'll have technology to blow Toyota out of the sales ring tomorrow!"

Meanwhile, Toyota is blowing them out of the sales ring TODAY!

[F8L]

I thought patent laws on the production of large Li-Ion batteries for vehicles was not over until 2014? Did they somehow purchase the ability to use the technology?

[hschuck]

Originally Posted by F8L

I thought patent laws on the production of large Li-Ion batteries for vehicles was not over until 2014? Did they somehow purchase the ability to use the technology?

I believe the patent issue you mention applies to Ni metal hydride batteries not Li-ion.

[clett]

Remember VW/Audi already tried the market 10 years ago here in Europe with the plug-in hybrid diesel TDi "Duo" which was on our roads for a time.

Sadly the battery technology to make it work wasn't quite there at the time and it flopped (they tried to use lead-acid!).

[The Tramp]

Originally Posted by Rybold

Watchout Toyota! Volkswagen, Audi (and maybe Porsche) aim to release Lithium-Ion batteries in 2010.

Please! VAG (VW - Audio Group) can only talk crap. They made a real joke of themselves at the 2008 Geneva motorshow.

The Volkswagen Golf TDI, seen at Geneva Motor Show this past March."

This is what I am talking about:
Volkswagen: a Ginevra anche la Golf TDI Hybrid posted on the 2-28, with nice pictures:






Then soon after the show, on the 4-25, comes the slap:
Too expensive - we are not going to do it. (VW: dietrofront sulla Golf TDI Hybrid di Ginevra) if there will EVER be a hybrid it will be gas driven.

So, from my (and many others) point of view, what VAG sais take it as a joke - until they will (eventually) produce it.