Munich — BMW sees no quick way to boost profit from electric cars, with battery capacity and cost set to weigh on the technology for the foreseeable future. "We simply have to walk through the valley of tears" to figure out how to save more money on producing battery-powered cars, Stefan Juraschek, vice-president of electric-powertrain development, told reporters at a briefing at a BMW testing facility in Munich. With driving range limited by current technology, the firm expects it to take about seven years to double the amount of energy stored in a battery that weighs about 230kg in the squat BMW i3 hatchback. Improving battery performance is key, as "there’s a clear trend to bigger electric cars and longer driving ranges," Juraschek said. Even with tepid reception from consumers, BMW and rivals are spending heavily to create electric cars to meet ever-tighter US and European emissions regulations. Daimler’s luxury Mercedes-Benz brand outlined plans in September for at least 10 bat...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.