Credit: LG Chem/Charged EVs
Both General Motors & Tesla have plans for mass market electric vehicles (EVs) with 200 mile (320 km) range for $30,000, around 2016.
Tesla has called its mass market EV the Model III. Part of the battery price reduction necessary to make the range & price targets will come from its battery Gigafactory project.
Now LG has indicated that it will be supplying batteries for an EV with 200+ mile (320+ km) range in 2016.
With GM planning to produce its next generation of EVs in South Korea, it appears to be a likely LG customer.
http://chargedevs.com/newswire/lg-chem-will-supply-batteries-for-200-mile-ev-in-2016/
EV range has always been limited by battery price. Most existing EVs have limited battery range, because more range means more battery cost, & more sticker shock. As a result, most existing EVs have 100 mile (160km) or less range. Tesla has taken the alternative route: their Model S is a superlative vehicle, with a range up to 320 miles[1] (500 km), at a significantly higher price.
When Elon Musk first announced the 2016-2017 timeframe for its 200 mile range, mass market EV, it represented a breakthrough. By 2016, Tesla may find itself in a crowded market. Two advantages it is likely to retain are the free-to-use Supercharger network & the promise of superior performance.
On the other hand, Tesla has recently opened up its patent portfolio & has suggested it is prepared to negotiate sharing its Supercharger network with other manufacturers[2].
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[1] http://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/models
[2] http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/06/11/elon-musk-talks-teslas-supercharger-future / LG Chem CFO Cho Suk-jeh Reuters South Korean company supply batteries EV 200 miles range 2016 automaker new cells General Motors GM supply agreement former CEO Dan Akerson 200-mile EV produce its next generation of EVs Bupyeong South Korea plant GM Korea head Sergio Rocha designed from the ground up EV legacy model GM VP Doug Parks AP new EV next-generation Volt MSRP $30,000 Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion range charge recharge /
