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

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.

 

A bit of an understatement!

 

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.

 

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!

 

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.

 

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!).

 

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

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.

 

Just to be correct, VAG is Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, the AG is the abbreviation for this, meaning shareholder corporation.

But yes, VW has teased us many times with something spectacular in MPG and never delivered. They have a fantastic 1.6 liter engine in Europe that gets into the 40 mpg range depending on what its in, yet they still give the US the 5-cylinder even in the base Rabbit. This engine could pass US emissions in a second and could be in the Rabbit and Jetta in 6 months if they wanted. But of course that would mean a lower price that their marketing can't stand for.

 

By VAG I meant the lot that control Seat, Skoda, Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche and Lamborghini. Thanks for telling me what it stands for. (I didn't know)

 

In the US, they sometimes refer to it as Volkswagen Audi Group.

 

I mentioned in another thread that Rupp has already modified a Porsche 911 with an all-electric battery system with a CVT type transmission that goes 0-60 in 7.0 sec, and drives perfectly quiet ('like a spaceship.") You get the same spaceship feeling driving a Prius.

 

My bet is the Panasonic EV Energy(battery supplier for Toyota) will supply Li-ion batteries to the Volkswagen Audi Group.
Because...
The Volkswagen Audi Group sellected Sanyo for the Li-ion supplier.
Panasonic is going to acquire Sanyo.
Sanyo's vehicle battery division will be merged into Panasonic EV Energy.

Ken@Japan

 

I noticed the dateline was May 28. Have they said/done anything in the last six months?