800km Range with Air Batteries by 2025!

CEO Winterkorn appears to believe that current lithium-ion battery technology is a temporary solution and insufficient in the long term. In the interview, he stated, "I believe plug-in hybrids are the most appropriate solution for the next ten years. And the plug-in hybrid system can be fitted to all existing VW Group platforms." This reveals his thinking that leveraging internal combustion engines is more realistic than rushing to sell EVs. Development of range extenders is also underway, with driving tests being conducted on an Audi TT equipped with a single-cylinder engine for power generation.

The charging method for the Golf Blue-e-Motion is unique: the socket appears when the emblem, located in the front grille, is opened.

Currently, lithium-ion batteries are used, with a maximum range of 150 km.

CEO Winterkorn is not satisfied with the performance of current lithium-ion batteries, stating, "With today's battery technology, a 250kg lithium-ion battery produces 25kWh, allowing for 150km of travel under ideal conditions. However, this is not the final word." He indicated that they are considering the introduction of new battery technologies beyond current lithium-ion technology. "Lithium-ion batteries have an energy density of 100Wh per kilogram, but lithium-sulfur batteries (which use sulfur for the cathode and metallic lithium for the anode, have a lower voltage than lithium-ion batteries but about three times the theoretical capacity per weight) offer 300Wh. Furthermore, lithium-air batteries have four to five times the energy density. When a 250kg battery can achieve a travel distance of 800km, I find that truly interesting. We believe such technology will likely be ready by 2025," he suggested, hinting at the market introduction of EVs equipped with lithium-air batteries in about 14 years.