Tag Archives: Gigafactory

Opinion

Editor’s letter: Can Tata’s gigafactory save the UK automotive industry?

Tata’s plan to construct a £4 billion gigafactory holds great potential for boosting electric car manufacturing in the UK, which is much needed.

Tata’s recent announcement of a new 40GWh battery factory expected to be operational by 2026 is a step towards finding a solution to the challenges faced by the industry. However, it is important to note that this is just the beginning, and more actions will be required.

Nevertheless, this development is significant as it brings a glimmer of hope to the otherwise gloomy outlook for car manufacturing in the UK during this era of electric vehicles.

News

Tesla Cybertruck finally enters production

Tesla has finally started production of its Cybertruck at its Gigafactory in Texas. This comes almost four years after the electric vehicle (EV) was first unveiled. The first production Cybertruck was revealed on Tesla’s social media channels, showcasing factory workers at the Texan headquarters. It is expected that Tesla will meet its revised target of delivering the pick-up to customers by the end of September, although this is a two-year delay from the original 2021 launch date.

The Cybertruck is a rival to Ford’s F-150 Lightning and is the same length as traditional competitors. However, it features a unique and distinctive design both inside and out. The EV has a radical wedge-shape design, no front grille, angular window frames, and bodywork with minimal curvature. The body of the Cybertruck is made of ultra-hard 30X cold-rolled stainless steel and is claimed to be bulletproof against 9mm bullets.

Customers will have three powertrain options to choose from, with one, two, or three electric motors. The single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version has a 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds and an estimated range of 250 miles. It can tow up to 3400kg and has a payload of 1360kg. The starting price for this variant is expected to be $39,900 (around £30,600) before any government incentives, according to Tesla’s launch details. All variants of the Cybertruck are said to be capable of charging at 1MW (1000kW), similar to the Tesla Semi.

The mid-range dual-motor variant offers all-wheel drive, a 0-60mph time of 4.5 seconds, and the ability to tow more than 4500kg. The starting price for this version is anticipated to be $49,900 (£38,300) before incentives. The top-of-the-line Cybertruck will feature Tesla’s latest tri-motor Plaid EV powertrain, which is also used in the Tesla Model S Plaid. Priced from $69,900 (£53,700), it boasts a claimed range of 500 miles, a 0-60mph time of 2.9 seconds, and the ability to complete a quarter-mile in just over 10 seconds. Additionally, it has a towing capacity of 6350kg, as confirmed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Volkswagen

“Unboxing” in Salzgitter: Prime Minister Stephan Weil Opens First Industrial Machine for Future Gigafactory

A significant milestone has been reached for the Salzgitter Gigafactory as Prime Minister Stephan Weil of Lower Saxony unveils the first industrial machine for the cell factory. The machine, which measures around 10 x 3 meters, marks the beginning of a new construction phase. The ramp-up of the machine and equipment park will now commence, with over 2,500 standard containers needed solely for equipment delivery. The Volkswagen Group’s battery company, PowerCo, is on schedule for its first mega project, and battery cell production at the Salzgitter site will commence in 2025.

Prime Minister Weil visited Salzgitter as part of his two-day summer tour focused on energy in Lower Saxony. The Gigafactory is regarded as an industrial symbol in Germany and a showcase for Lower Saxony as a location. Additionally, the Gigafactory leads the way in sustainability by relying on renewable energy and implementing innovative production processes like dry coating, which can reduce energy usage by up to 30 percent in the future.

Weil explained, “Volkswagen’s decision to construct the first gigafactory for battery cell production in Lower Saxony was courageous and wise. The pandemic has shown us the importance of being self-reliant in crucial areas of production, particularly regarding the battery, which is an essential component of electric vehicles. We must ensure that Germany remains a hub for battery cell production in the face of high energy costs.”

Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board Member Group Technology, stated, “A year ago, this area was just an open field, but now we are already setting up the first high-tech machines. This demonstrates the speed at which we are executing our plans. PowerCo is well on its way to becoming a global player in the battery industry, potentially serving as a new, future-proof powerhouse for Lower Saxony and Germany.”

The Gigafactory Salzgitter covers an area of approximately 2 million square meters, equivalent to around 280 football fields, making it one of the largest construction projects in Lower Saxony. In total, three PowerCo sites are under construction, including Salzgitter, Valencia, and St. Thomas, Canada. These factories combined will have a total capacity of up to 200 gigawatt hours per year, enough to power over 2 million electric cars.

PowerCo: Attracting Battery Experts

PowerCo is becoming a draw for battery experts. By July 1, 2023, the battery company is expected to employ its one-thousandth employee. By the end of the year, the workforce is projected to grow to up to 1,500. The average age of employees is currently 38, and more than a quarter come from international backgrounds. PowerCo also boasts a higher-than-average female representation of over 30 percent compared to the rest of the industry.

PowerCo CEO Frank Blome stated, “We are building an exceptional team. One year after its establishment, PowerCo has become an attractive destination for experienced battery specialists, who are highly sought-after worldwide. Simultaneously, we are actively training and qualifying our Group employees. In times of skilled labor shortages, this gives us a clear competitive advantage.”

News

Ola Electric Starts Construction On New Gigafactory Facility In India

# Ola Electric Starts Construction On New Gigafactory Facility In India

On June 21, 2023, Ola Electric announced that it was beginning the construction of its new Gigafactory facility in Tamil Nadu, India. To commemorate this milestone, the company held a ceremony and shared a video of the installation of the first pillar of the new construction on its official Instagram account.

Once completed, the new Ola Electric Gigafactory facility will cover an area of 115 acres and will add to the manufacturing capacity of the company’s first manufacturing hub called Futurefactory. The company aims to have the Gigafactory fully operational by early 2024 if everything goes according to plan. Given Ola Electric’s track record of building the 500-acre Futurefactory and quickly starting manufacturing operations, achieving this goal seems feasible.

In addition to the Gigafactory construction, Ola Electric has been keeping itself in the news with the upcoming launch of its new S1 electric scooter, which its CEO Bhavish Aggarwal has been teasing. This, along with its impressive manufacturing expansion plans, will help the company maintain its position and attract more riders and potential customers in India.

However, Ola Electric also faces challenges as it continues its growth in line with India’s electrification goals. The company’s social media channels reveal some customer complaints about its services and products, although the company promptly responds to these comments with direct messages, promising to address the issues.

While the company initially focused on electric two-wheelers, it also made headlines in February 2023 when it announced plans to invest $920 million in the production of its own electric cars and batteries. All of these vehicles, including two-wheeled and four-wheeled ones, will be manufactured in Tamil Nadu. Ola Electric aims to produce 140,000 electric cars per year once it reaches full production capacity. Furthermore, the company has expressed interest in expanding beyond India’s EV market and exploring opportunities in neighboring countries like Nepal, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the European Union.

Ola Electric’s current hashtag of choice is #EndICEAge, underscoring its commitment to replacing internal combustion engines with electric vehicles. As the company’s journey continues, we will provide updates on any future developments.

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