[Autohome? Industry] Faced with the major shortcomings of electric vehicles such as less energy storage, risk of spontaneous combustion, slow charging, and difficulty in recycling, solid-state batteries have become the subject of intense research in the industry. In addition to its outstanding energy density, solid-state batteries are also non-flammable, non-corrosive, non-volatile, and have no leakage problems, so they have high hopes for the entire new energy automobile industry. Recently, Volkswagen Group plans to increase its stake in QuantumScape, a spin-off company that develops solid-state batteries at Stanford University, and will invest an additional US$200 million (approximately 1.4 billion yuan) to promote the development of solid-state battery technology. Currently, Volkswagen hopes to strengthen its layout in the battery field. Thomas Schmall, chairman of the Volkswagen Parts Management Board, said: "We are making technological progress with our partner QuantumScape, and this investment will effectively enhance our focus on all-solid-state batteries." "Joint R&D work." In terms of strategic planning, Volkswagen reached a cooperation with QuantumScape in the field of solid-state battery technology as early as 2012, and invested US$100 million (approximately 700 million yuan) in it in 2018 to become its largest shareholder. . The two parties have also jointly established a joint venture company focusing on solid-state battery research and will set up a pilot factory in 2020. According to Volkswagen's plan, it will establish a solid-state battery mass production line in 2025.
『Volkswagen e-Golf』 It is reported that QuantumScape already has about 200 solid-state battery technology patents and patent applications. Volkswagen officially claims that QuantumScape’s solid-state battery can increase the comprehensive cruising range of the e-Golf (pure electric golf version) from 300 kilometers to 750 kilometers. Volkswagen has already tested QuantumScape’s battery samples. It is speculated that the test objects are previously equipped with The PB18 e-tron pure electric supercar uses a solid-state battery. In order to accelerate its electrification layout, Volkswagen is also accelerating its layout in the battery field. In 2019, Volkswagen and Northvolt established a joint venture focusing on the research and development of power batteries; at the end of May 2020, Volkswagen China invested 1.1 billion euros (approximately 8.8 billion yuan) to acquire 26% of the equity of Guoxuan Hi-Tech. At this point, Volkswagen will become the first A foreign-invested automobile company that directly holds shares in Chinese battery manufacturers. (Text/Autohome?Peng Fei)