It can “radically” reduce the cost and increase the vehicle’s range!
According to new information from Reuters, Apple plans to begin production of the self-driving car under the Apple brand from 2024. The source added that the company has been working on the project since 2014.
Unnamed sources told Reuters that Apple Car will receive a completely new level of the battery. Apple is preparing a new battery design that could “radically” reduce the cost and increase the vehicle’s range.
Apple is creating a “single-cell” design that expands the volume of individual battery cells and frees up space inside the battery pack. This will allow the use of more active material in a smaller package. Apple is also studying the chemistry of a battery called LFP, or lithium iron phosphate, which is inherently less prone to overheating and therefore safer than other types of lithium-ion batteries.
Apple will need to use a completely new supply chain to manufacture the car. Apple reportedly plans to rely on a carmaker partner. Apple can use several types of lidars to scan its surroundings at different distances.
Reuters warns that the company may still decide to scale back the project and scale back its efforts to an autonomous driving system that will be integrated into another manufacturer’s vehicle.
Source: Reuters