There’s a cold war going on behind the scenes of the automotive industry. One could say it’s a race to build the next true alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles but, for our sake today, it’s to engineer the most cost-efficient method for batteries.
Electric vehicle technology is on the upswing and, during a recent conference call with Tesla discussing its quarter-three earnings report, CEO Elon Musk and CTO JB Straubel dismissed weren’t too worried about General Motors, according to Autoblog.
The comments come following the announcement GM has acquired LG Chem battery cells for only $145 per kWh and, during the announcement of GM and LG further aligning their strategic partnership, both companies expect the cost to dip below $100 per kWh by 2021.
Straubel said he is at ease with Tesla’s “cost road map in the future,” with Musk adding they are “constantly agonizing about cell cost and pack cost”, and that he didn’t think “anyone is on a path to be even close to us.”
“If they are, I will be the first to congratulate them,” he finished. “They” being General Motors. Shots fired.
Comments
Please learn the difference between phase and faze.
GM has the lowest cost per kWh now. TM will try to beat that when the Gigafactory is fully in production. Still, GM is ahead.
Checked out a tesla at a shopping centre yesterday, asked about the battery pack life expectancy and replacement cost, sales woman said they still don’t know how long a pack will last but think 8 years is close, replacement cost is $12,000 US
F that for a joke
The Tesla is an amazing car but I agree at the F that on the cost of a replacement battery. This is a major problem for Electric cars. Best bet is you do four year lease and then the MFG should replace the battery and resell the vehicle. I know that’s a pipe dream. I’m sure we will see alot of Electric cars being junked at the ten year mark.
Apparently Tesla isn’t even fazed by GM’s battery being shaped like a giant ‘T’….