Swift recharging times, substantial power output, and extended range.
800 volts significantly enhance the daily experience of electric vehicle drivers, providing these vehicles with remarkable long-range capabilities. However, despite the appeal, 800-volt cars remain a scarcity in the electric vehicle market. Currently, there are only five platforms available on the German market, boasting a diverse range of mostly premium electric vehicles.
Hyundai/Kia Motor Group
The Hyundai Motor Group provides the most extensive selection of 800-volt cars, all of which are based on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). This underlying structure features a customizable fundamental structure with a battery pack located in the vehicle floor and attached to two electric axles. The front axle includes independent wheel suspension, MacPherson struts, and a front engine, while the rear axle features a multi-link rear axle and a rear engine. The output power from the single or dual motor drive systems ranges from 125 kW/170 PS to 430 kW/585 PS. Seven model series are available, each featuring battery packs of 58, 73, 77, and 85 kWh.
Hyundai offers the Ioniq 5 and 6 models, which serve as the entry-level models into the E-GMP realm, priced at 44,000 euros. The Kia EV6 and EV9 series, as well as the luxury brand Genesis's GV60 and electrified versions of the GV70 and G80, are also part of the selection. The Ioniq 6 holds the title of range champion, with a maximum range of 614 kilometers.
VW Group J1 Platform
The 800-volt offerings from the VW Group are diverse and are limited to premium brands such as Porsche and Audi. Porsche, with its J1 platform and the 2019-introduced Taycan based on it, leads the way as the 800-volt pioneer. This platform allows for four motors, a power output range of 300 kW/408 PS to 760 kW/1034 PS, and battery packs with a capacity of 89 to 105 kWh, enabling ranges of up to 678 kilometers. With the Taycan facelift scheduled for 2024, the charging power will be increased to up to 320 kW. In ideal situations, a 20-minute charging break can cover up to 1000 kilometers with the Taycan. In addition to the Taycan, Porsche also offers the slightly roomier Taycan Sport and Cross Turismo. Audi provides the E-Tron GT as an alternative. The entry-level price into the J1 world is offered by Porsche with the base Taycan, priced at 101,500 euros.
VW Group PPE Platform
Due to the high cost on the J1 basis, the VW Group has developed the PPE platform, which is reserved for Porsche and Audi and currently serves as the basis for the new electric models Porsche Macan, Audi Q6 E-Tron and A6 E-Tron, as well as the new version of the Porsche Cayenne. Currently, various rear-wheel and all-wheel drive systems with a power output range of 185 kW/252 PS to 470 kW/639 PS are available. Battery packs of 83 or 100 kWh can be chosen. The A6 E-Tron will be the range champion, with up to 756 kilometers, and features up to 270 kW charging power, enabling a 4-minute addition of 100 kilometers. The most affordable entry into the PPE world is the rear-wheel-drive Q6 E-Tron, priced at 63,500 euros.
Lucid Motors
While some may believe that the 800-volt platforms have reached their zenith, Lucid Motors, an American startup, has entered the fray with an impressive 900-volt architecture in terms of specifications and performance.
The Air sedan, their only available model in Germany, boasts a plethora of premium features and impressive power and performance. The single-motor, 321 kW/436 PS base model accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in under 5 seconds. The Sapphire top version, with three motors and 920 kW/1251 PS, completes the standard sprint in less than 2 seconds. Lucid offers four battery packs ranging from 88 to 118 kWh. The Grand Touring model, with the longest range, offers an impressive 830 kilometers and boasts extremely fast charging: 400 kilometers in just 16 minutes. Prices for the Air start at 85,000 euros.
Lotus
Lotus, now part of the Chinese Geely Group, offers high-performance electric vehicles such as the Eletre under this brand, based on an 800-volt platform.
On this foundation, Lotus presents a significantly larger and heavier vehicle for its lightweight heritage, weighing 2.6 tons and measuring 5.10 meters in length. It's available with either 450 kW/612 PS or 675 kW/918 PS. With careful driving, the 112 kWh battery can reach up to 600 kilometers. The maximum charging power is an impressive 350 kW, allowing a charge from 10 to 80 percent in just 20 minutes, or 100 kilometers in 5 minutes. The starting price is a competitive 96,000 euros.
The collection of 800-volt electric vehicles in Germany isn't fully assembled yet. One contender in this league is the Croatian velocipede Rimac Nevera, boasting a minimum of 1914 PS or 1408 kW from its quadrivalent powertrain, a 120 kWh battery, and a hypothetical recharging capacity of 500 kW. Regrettably, with a price tag of at least two million euros, this automobile isn't likely to be experienced by many.
On the flip side, the Chinese titan BYD may help popularize 800 volts on a broader scale through its E-Platform 3.0. The Salamander sedan, accessible in Germany, derives from this blueprint, which previously functioned at 400 volts. BYD has now moved to 800 volts in China with the E-Platform 3.0 Evo. The recently refurbished Salamander in China now comes equipped with an 81 kWh battery that provides a range of roughly 600 kilometers and can be recharged from 10 to 80 percent in a mere 25 minutes. However, the German release date for the updated Salamander remains ambiguous.
While the Hyundai Motor Group offers a diverse range of 800-volt cars, other automakers like Lucid Motors are pushing the boundaries with even more advanced systems. For instance, Lucid Motors has introduced a 900-volt architecture with its Air sedan, offering impressive performance and a maximum range of 830 kilometers.
Despite the scarcity of 800-volt electric vehicles in the market, emerging players like Lucid Motors and Chinese titans like BYD are set to expand this technology and make it more accessible to consumers in the near future.
