[SexyBeast]

Interesting news

VW Group U.S. market share could be 10% by 2030 because of EVs, Diess says

In an online reveal of Volkswagen's next decade of strategy, executives laid out ambitious goals for the region and said the automaker will design and make its own batteries, roll out a Level 4 autonomous vehicle in 2026 and beat Tesla at its own game.

www.autonews.com

How will the new SSP platform be different from current MEB platform?
How will a new unified cell be different from the current battery in ID.4?
Let the speculations begin…
I’m particularly interested in hearing from those with engineering knowledge.

 

[Nai3t]

The SSP unified battery will get rid of the pouch cells found in our ID.4 batteries, and replace them with prismatic cells. Prismatic cells are more space efficient, and might be the path to towards the battery itself becoming a structural element of the chassis.

Prismatic resemble a blade-style plug-in component (rigid body), but internally resemble a flattened cylindrical cell.

From a user standpoint, no change. From an engineering take, these are more compact and don't require the supporting structure that pouches rely on. They supposedly are more difficult to thermally manage.

 

[DeciusCaeciliusMetellus]

We knew all this for months: Volkswagen Group set to use platform model for issues of the future, 2021-03-16

 

[SunWizard]

Note the 2023 date in your title is only for EU, for the rest of us it says 2026 for the new platform but doesn't mention dates for the battery changes:
"Audi will begin using SSP modules beginning in 2025 in its Artemis project vehicle, while VW would begin to use the modules a year later on its Trinity project. "

 

[ChristophW]

They also stated earlier this year that the new batteries will enable more efficient packaging, first by eliminating the module concept. That'd be similar to Tesla's plans for the 4680 cells, and is made possible by the more rigid prismatic cells, the benefits of which @Nai3t nicely explained.

 

[Froggy]

Well that was quick. But I am still glad that I didn’t wait another 4 years.

 

[Mike Bouck]

Maybe I'll trade my Prius in for a next gen VW electric in 4 or 5 years. Until then I'll hedge my fuel source risks with a Prius and an ID.4.