According to foreign media reports, Markus Schaefer, Daimler's head of research and development, said that Mercedes-Benz plans to build a complete electric drivetrain for its new MMA and MB.EA electric vehicle architecture completely autonomously from 2024. "To achieve this, we are significantly increasing the depth of added value and will shift from third-party sourcing to in-house production."
Schaefer said, "So far, our electric drivetrains have come from external partners. For example, ZF supplies powertrain modules for its mid-sized electric SUV EQC, while Valeo-Siemens eAutomotive supplies motors for its luxury flagship electric model EQS.
Schaefer said, "We want to control the entire motor, battery and power electronic system as much as possible, just like an internal combustion engine." "This also includes the inverter, which transfers energy from the battery to the engine." However, we have not yet decided whether to produce the inverter in-house. ”
(Image source: Daimler)
Last week, Mercedes-Benz showcased the Vision EQXX concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and showed off its new drivetrain. Mercedes-Benz said that with the same battery capacity, the new system only needs half the installation space, which is about a third lighter than before, and it is highly efficient.
The EQXX consumes only 10 kWh per 100 km/ and current electric vehicles consume about 15 kWh or more per 100 km, which will greatly extend the range of Mercedes-Benz electric models, especially the next generation of compact cars, which can travel more than 1,000 km (about 600 miles) at a time on a single charge.
(Image source: Mercedes-Benz)
Schaefer said that as Mercedes accelerates its transition to electric vehicles, the company is adjusting its production and supply forecasts and demand. "As we are accelerating the transition to electric vehicles, we must talk about expanding the capacity of electric drivetrains globally. By 2025, half of Mercedes-Benz's sales will come from pure electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. ”
He also said it would also benefit workers in factories that rely heavily on the internal combustion engine. Previously, unions at Mercedes-Benz and other automakers had been concerned that the factories could lay off workers.
Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will produce a high-performance axial motor in Berlin, which it has developed in conjunction with Yasa, a British motor startup acquired by Daimler. Schaefer said the second radial motor for its small cars will be produced at the Mercedes-Benz Untertürkheim plant.
In addition, Mercedes-Benz's self-developed batteries will soon be used in the company's cars, and Mercedes-Benz has announced the construction of four factories in Europe with multiple partners. One such partner is ACC, where, in addition to Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and French energy giant Total also hold stakes in the company. ACC has selected Douvrin in France and Kaiserslautern in Germany as sites for its gigafactories. ACC will also build at least one production facility in Germany. Schaefer said, "The ACC will be the champion of the European battery industry, and it will definitely need more than two factories." ”
Schaefer also said Mercedes-Benz is also preparing other battery plants to meet expected battery demand. "In the near future, we will also announce the construction of a battery factory in Cooperation with another partner in Europe." But he didn't provide more details. It is reported that the partner is China's battery expert Fu Neng Technology, Daimler and Fu Neng Technology are strategic partners.
Furner Technologies wants to build a European battery production facility in Bitterfeld, Germany, but has been hesitant to implement the plan. Recently, Stefan Bergold, Head of European Sales at Fu Neng Technology, revealed that the company is currently evaluating its localization strategy.