We Hear: German Automakers Investing Billions Into Next-Gen EVs

Due to stricter emissions requirements, automakers are turning to other sources of propulsion such as electricity and hydrogen. According to our friends at AUTOMOBILE, German automakers are investing billions in developing next-generation battery electric vehicles (BEVs) as a way to meet new emissions regulations even though a well-integrated charging infrastructure is still far from reality, range anxiety remains an issue, and electric car sales have stayed flat.

In the Volkswagen Group alone, Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen are all actively pursuing BEVs with two officially in the works—including Porsche’s Mission E and Audi’s Q6 e-Tron—and one already on sale, the Volkswagen e-Golf. Additionally, there are six other proposals within the Volkswagen Group for BEV models including an all-electric Beetle, a compact crossover, a sedan, and a two-seat sports car that reportedly has a drag coefficient of under 0.20. A variant of the MQB platform called the MEB is already in the works, but potential budget issues related to the diesel emissions scandal could cause issues for Volkswagen. As a result, Volkswagen could develop a single modular platform for high- and low-floor applications that all brands can use on everything from high-end models to more affordable cars.

BMW is currently expected to refresh the i3 in 2018 and the i8 in 2019, with the latter gaining a more powerful battery sometime later this year. The third i-car, dubbed as project iX and possibly to be called the i5, is rumored to be a four-door hatchback with subtle SUV elements such as body cladding. Underpinning the i5 will be a flat battery storage assembly, known internally as FSAR that’s closely related to the rear-drive modular system called CLAR. Vehicles underpinned by FSAR and CLAR will also share software technologies such as Ethernet and 5G mobile connectivity needed for fully autonomous driving.

Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, will debut its electric vehicle architecture called EVA2 in 2021 and will introduce a mildly restyled all-electric GLC-Class crossover called the ELC in 2018, which will feature two electric motors and torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. A smaller GLA-Class-based ELA and B-Class-based GLB should arrive by 2021. Mercedes’ EVA2 platform will be modular and aluminum extensive as well as fully flexible in length, width, track, wheelbase, and height. Four models are expected to launch under EVA2, including two sedans and two crossovers. AMG models are also expected for the all-electric vehicles that will use the EVA2 platform. In terms of price, EVA2 models will have similar pricing as their gas or diesel counterparts.

For more on these EV plans, head over to AUTOMOBILE.

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