What battery capacity will ŠKODA AUTO vehicles have? What is the estimated range?
The ŠKODA’s first all-electric SUV, the ENYAQ iV, will have a range of up to 510 kilometres in the WLTP measurement cycle.
How far does the battery last, even if features such as the air-conditioning system are switched on?
Let’s take the CITIGOᵉ iV as an example. Over a practical range of 180 to 260 kilometres, the usual comfort will be possible.
What are the advantages of a lithium-ion battery?
Compared to other batteries, a lithium-ion battery boasts high energy density, sound performance and good safety characteristics (fast acceleration) with minimum memory effect, a long service life and marketable costs, which can be reduced further in the next few years. A lithium-ion battery therefore meets all ŠKODA criteria in terms of everyday suitability, service life and safety criteria.
Are the batteries in ŠKODA EVs powerful enough?
You can be sure that all ŠKODA EVs are equipped with high-voltage lithium-ion batteries and state-of-the-art technology to ensure the highest possible energy density.
What does "practical range" mean and how does it differ from the WLTP measurement?
Let’s take the CITIGOᵉ iV as an example. The CITIGOᵉ iV offers a WLTP-measured range of 260 km. In addition, we specify that it has a practical range of 180-260 km, with the low value referring to suboptimal conditions (for example, very low outdoor temperatures).
How long do batteries last?
ŠKODA guarantees a battery life of 8 years or 160,000 km.
Can a battery be replaced when the capacity decreases?
In cases covered by the guarantee, the battery can be exchanged. However, we have set the very ambitious goal that the battery will still have 80% of its power after 10 years, assuming mileage of 15,000 kilometres per year. If unexpected defects do occur, individual battery elements can be replaced.
How are ŠKODA EV batteries disposed of?
Fortunately, batteries can be recycled and up to 96% of the materials in a battery can be recovered. There are two ways to recycle a battery after it reaches the recycling plant. If batteries have no more charge, they can simply be dismantled to separate metal components such as copper and steel. If batteries still have a charge, they are smashed into bits after being frozen in liquid nitrogen (so that the batteries can’t react when they are being smashed).
Can EV batteries be recycled?
Battery recycling is crucial for our industry. Li-ion batteries can be recycled, but the costs are exceedingly high. As eMobility becomes more widespread, the production of Li-ion batteries will increase, driving demand for raw materials and resulting in more batteries reaching the end of their lifespans. These effects will spur the development of cheaper and more effective recycling methods.
What options exist for the reuse of batteries?
Even after a battery has reached the end of its in-car lifespan, recycling is not the only option. These batteries can be remade into energy storage devices, and in doing so, the overall lifespan of the battery will be prolonged by many years. In other words, we’ll give our batteries a second life.
Can the lithium contained in EV batteries be recycled?
The process of extracting and recycling the lithium is very complex, so we'll keep it short: yes, state-of-the-art separation technologies enable us to recycle up to 96% of our lithium-ion batteries and we are continuously conducting research on how to recover high levels of valuable materials.
How does ŠKODA AUTO approach the environmentally sound disposal of batteries?
ŠKODA AUTO has prepared a programme for the secondary use of batteries from cars directly at our dealerships and ŠKODA AUTO operations. Remaining battery capacity that is no longer efficient for the operation of the vehicle will be used for energy storage in technical operation of service centres and production sites.
How safe are the batteries in electric cars?
The batteries in ŠKODA electric vehicles have the highest level of safety in the event of an accident, overheating or short-circuiting. These cars undergo demanding quality and crash tests just like other vehicles and meet the strictest safety standards.
How does the weight of the battery affect the driving characteristics?
The battery is installed in the vehicle floor centrally between the axles. This results in a low centre of gravity with optimal weight distribution on the front and rear axles, yielding very good driving characteristics for a sporty ride and cornering.
Don’t the batteries take up a lot of space in the car?
On the contrary – one of the biggest advantages of electric vehicles is their spaciousness and interior variability. It’s true that a lot of batteries are needed to ensure an adequate driving distance, but these are located in the floor of the car. Not only does this prevent them from being an obstacle, but they also provide a low centre of gravity, making for excellent handling. The electric drive itself is much more space-saving than conventional engine designs. There is no need for a large transmission, and electric motors are considerably smaller than combustion engines.
Is the place in the CITIGOᵉ iV limited because of the battery? Where exactly is the battery installed?
The battery is installed in the floor of the vehicle between the front and rear axles. This is the safest place in the vehicle and, thanks to the low centre of gravity, delivers extremely good handling characteristics for a sporty ride and cornering. The boot volume has therefore remained identical. Only the footrest point for rear passengers has had to be raised slightly to accommodate the battery.
How expensive are batteries?
In general, the battery is the main component in the price of an electric vehicle. The battery is more expensive in smaller models and cheaper in bigger models. As electric cars become more and more popular, batteries will go down in price and electric cars will be more affordable.
Is there any difference between batteries for PHEV (hybrid) cars and purely electric BEVs?
Yes, there is. There are fundamental differences in capacity and design. PHEV batteries have less capacity and are usually located towards the back of the car, under the second row of seats, as the vehicle also has to accommodate an internal combustion engine. The design of BEV batteries, generally reminiscent of a skateboard, is derived from their location in the floor. As BEVs have no internal combustion engine, the battery logically has more capacity.