CATL to supply batteries for commercial vehicles to VWCO
The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL and the commercial vehicle brand Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus (VWCO) operating in South America have concluded a long-term strategic cooperation agreement.
CATL will offer comprehensive battery solutions for the electrification of VWCO. The agreement includes the development and manufacture of batteries as well as recycling and secondary use. Under the terms of the agreement, the partnership will start with e-Delivery, due to launch worldwide as an 11-ton and 14-ton truck version in 2020.
The electric truck will come with CATL’s standard LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery packs, which features “exceptional long cycle life and high thermal runaway temperature of up to 800°C,” according to CATL.
The batteries will also utilise the “Cell-to-Pack” (CTP) technology shown at the IAA. The cells are integrated directly into the battery pack rather than being organised in modules. CATL speaks of an energy density of 160 Wh/kg at the system level. Also, a cooling plate was integrated into the battery to ensure the batteries withstand the climatic conditions in Brazil.
The partnership is in line with VWCO’s approach to offer tailor-made solutions with the best value for money ratio, especially for markets in Latin America and Africa. The brand, formerly VW Truck & Bus, had been working on the e-delivery architecture for two years reportedly.
Besides, the agreement is also a part of the e-Consortium, an alliance established between VWCO and selected suppliers for facilitating access to electric technology in the commercial vehicle (CV) sector. CATL is the only lithium-ion battery supplier in the consortium.
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