Skip advert
Advertisement

Mercedes EV boss: battery breakthrough is close

Battery range will double in the next decade, says Mercedes EV boss – opening up a world of possibilities

Battery technology is on the brink of a major breakthrough, according to Harald Kroger, Mercedes’ vice-president of electronics and e-drive. At the Geneva Motor Show, where Mercedes unveiled the V-ision-e concept, he revealed that by 2025 he expects battery range to double for a given size and weight, giving the technology genuine mass-market appeal.

Advertisement - Article continues below

“How long before we have twice the range for the same-sized battery? Ten years,” Kroger told us. “There are literally thousands of scientists working on the problem. A breakthrough happened with lithium-ion technology not long ago when it wiped out nickel-hydride, and another one will come soon.”

Although he didn’t point to one particular technology, he added: “We know it’s doable in terms of the physics and chemistry, we know the country is out there – we just need to find the best way to get there.”

Best electric cars

Kroger backed up his claims by revealing that Mercedes' main battery suppliers are getting increasingly nervous. If it’s not them that makes the breakthrough and demand for current lithium-ion batteries suddenly drops, they could be weighed down by their huge factory set-up costs and forced out of business. For this reason, Kroger believes Tesla’s $5billion 'Gigafactory', slated to start producing lithium-ion cells in 2017, is a huge risk.

And Tesla’s problems don’t end there. Not only has Audi dropped hints that it has an all-electric Model S rival in the pipeline, but Mercedes could be working on something similar, too. Kroger told us to “stay tuned, it’s a little bit too early, let’s see” when we asked him about it.

“You need to be careful when we talk about Tesla," he added. "In Germany, Tesla sales are a factor of 10 below expectations. But Tesla has proven a point that there’s a different sector you can attack with an EV than the city cars everyone was doing up until then.”

Now read more details on all the cars revealed at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best classic cars - the classics we’d most love to own
Best classic cars - July 25

Best classic cars - the classics we’d most love to own

These are our favourite classic cars, from British beauties to V8-engined beasts
Best cars & vans
8 Jul 2025
Luxury Mercedes ‘leather’ made from old tyres is great news for the planet, and cows
‘Labfiber Biotech Leather Alternative’ - tyre and leather

Luxury Mercedes ‘leather’ made from old tyres is great news for the planet, and cows

The new material was first seen in the radical AMG GT XX concept, but will be used in the brand’s road cars
News
26 Jun 2025
New Mercedes-AMG super-saloon looks ready to pounce on the Lotus Emeya
Mercedes-AMG electric super-saloon - front 3/4 static

New Mercedes-AMG super-saloon looks ready to pounce on the Lotus Emeya

AMG’s new technological flagship will be revealed in full next year, after being previewed by the radical AMG GT XX concept
News
26 Jun 2025
New Mercedes-AMG GT XX Concept unveils 1,341bhp plan to blow the Porsche Taycan away
Mercedes-AMG GT XX Concept - front reveal

New Mercedes-AMG GT XX Concept unveils 1,341bhp plan to blow the Porsche Taycan away

High-performance Mercedes-AMG GT XX Concept to start a new chapter in high-performance engineering
News
25 Jun 2025

Most Popular

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
MG IM5 - Goodwood front

New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range

The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
News
10 Jul 2025
Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports
MST Ford Escort - front 3/4

Ford Escort Mexico gets new lease of life with MST Sports

While not officially Fords, the MST Mk1 and Mk2 Sports should drive as sharply as they look
News
7 Jul 2025
New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons
Mazda CX-5 - front

New Mazda CX-5 revealed with fresh looks, more space and far fewer buttons

The Mazda CX-5 has been revolutionised to take on the Nissan Qashqai, Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson
News
10 Jul 2025