Resumen de Renault: Shorter-range batteries will help manage raw material costs
EV-makers are looking at ways to reduce their exposure to battery raw material costs, such as cobalt which has soared over recent months.Mass-market production of electric vehicles (EVs) will ultimately focus on batteries for shorter-range use, allowing carmakers to manage their exposure to cobalt prices, according to Masato Origuchi, an electrical storage system expert with French manufacturer Renault. According to forecasts used by Renault, 10 million EVs will be manufactured in 2025. The capacity for a 15-minute charge would start to make such cars suitable for longer-range, inter-city driving, delegates heard.Higher kWh rating, longer-range EVs will still be produced, but will make up a premium sector of a car manufacturer’s fleet, since longer ranges are not required by the majority of drivers - and they come at a cost.
