Reports about Apple’s ambitions in the automotive market have been circulating for almost six years. While it was initially always said that Apple wanted to bring a complete vehicle onto the market, in 2016 there was allegedly an extensive project stop and a realignment towards sensor systems. In the past few weeks, however, the pendulum swung again, because several sources had heard that a car with the Apple logo was very well planned. Even Reuters has now reported to speak. Although the service contradicts the reports just discussed that Apple is planning the announcement as early as autumn 2021, it still wants to know about a start of production in the foreseeable future.
The battery as a unique selling point
According to this, production could start as early as 2024 – in the automotive industry that is less time than in the fast-moving smartphone world. Since Apple certainly doesn’t just want to bring an electric vehicle like any other onto the market, it needs various unique selling points. According to Reuters, there is also this, because Apple is striving to bring about a breakthrough in the field of battery technology. Two problems are to be solved with it: Allegedly Apple can increase the capacity, but above all lower the costs and address the disadvantages of previous concepts.
Futuristic but age-old renderings
With lithium iron phosphate into the future
The strategy is to first shrink the dimensions of the battery systems with a monocell design so that more battery power can be implemented with the same size. At the same time, Apple is researching lithium iron phosphate batteries, which, due to their design, offer significantly less energy density, but are less susceptible to heat and cold, mechanical damage and a high and low charge level. The service life is also better than current batteries – in addition, disused components are easier to recycle. By the way, Tesla also announced some time ago that it would be very interested in LFP (“Lithium FerroPhosphate”) and began converting the Model 3 Standard Range Plus. The results are currently pretty mixed.
The next “amazing” generation of batteries
Reuters quotes an employee from Apple’s auto department as saying: If there is a company in the world that has the resources for it (= auto development, production), it is Apple. At the same time, of course, it is not just a smartphone. The battery technology will definitely be “next level” – as amazing as the first iPhone. At the same time, Apple wants to use the billions in investments in LiDAR technology to enable self-driving cars. At the moment, Apple is even considering manufacturing its own sensors instead of just buying them. In this discipline, too, Apple would like to introduce the next generation of technology and set itself apart from others.
One of Apple’s test vehicles
Car production by established manufacturers?
Other voices still give indications of the production of the vehicles, which Apple does not want / could not handle on its own. It was heard that the company could team up with established manufacturers and use their manufacturing expertise. For example, this is a construction site that Tesla is still working on. The electrical pioneer is often unable to achieve the manufacturing precision of other premium brands – probably a problem that Apple would also have in a very similar form.
It remains an extremely ambitious project
As discussed in yesterday’s report, it is not enough to simply bring the vehicle to market readiness, even if it is technologically superior. Investors have heard that the establishment of a production and delivery network for the whole world cannot be achieved overnight – as can be seen from Tesla. At the same time, doubts arise as to what is so interesting in the (classic) automotive market. Obviously, Apple is looking at the matter from an angle you don’t see – like Hal Eddins of Capital Investment Counsel.