Published in Transportation

VW wants to take on Tesla

by on17 November 2021


Triumph of the will

Vollkswagen is planning to take on Tesla in a key electric vehicle (EV) battleground – power infrastructure.

VW plans to double staff numbers at its charging and energy division, roll out new payment technology next year and strike more alliances to make sure.

Europe's biggest carmaker hopes to convince drivers worried about battery range by ensuring there are enough fast-charging plugs - and enough power - for the EVs it wants to sell,

VW has drafted in power industry veteran Elke Temme, who spent nearly two decades at German energy companies RWE and Innogy, to help the carmaker get in better shape.

Temme has been tasked with bundling the carmaker's various power activities such as procuring energy, enabling customers to charge their cars at home, and on the road, and selling the electricity required.

This requires more workers and Temme plans to double the staff at Volkswagen's European charging and energy division, known as Elli, to about 300 in 2022, having already tripled it this year.

"We're investing in huge growth areas that don't always have to be profitable right away. We always see these investments in the overall context of our group strategy. That's why building up a comprehensive infrastructure is key," she said.

Volkswagen leads the pack worldwide by far with its investment plans for EVs and batteries through 2030. It has previously said it is planning to spend 35 billion euros on battery EVs by 2025.

Volkswagen expects its network of fast-chargers to nearly quadruple to about 45,000 by 2025 - when it aims to overhaul Tesla as the global EV market leader - with 18,000 EV pumps in Europe, 17,000 in China and 10,000 in North America.

 

Last modified on 17 November 2021
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