The US electric car manufacturer Tesla plans to produce batteries with new technology in its first factory in Europe. In Grünheide near Berlin, larger and more powerful cells should be manufactured than usual, it was said on Wednesday from well-informed circles.

Precondition for electromobility in the mass market This was already an issue at the Tesla “Battery Day” in September in Fremont (USA). Efficient and inexpensive batteries are a prerequisite for electromobility to establish itself in the mass market. At “Battery Day”, Tesla boss Elon Musk spoke about innovations in battery technology, but previously dampened hopes for an immediate breakthrough on Twitter.

Before one year (12. Dec. 2019) the Tesla boss in Berlin had announced that that the European factory is to be built near the federal capital. Several federal states wanted the plant. Construction in Grünheide is now progressing rapidly. However, Tesla has so far only been building through provisional approvals because the final environmental approval from the Brandenburg State Environment Agency is still pending. The authority recently approved the supporting structures for roofs and external walls in the area of ​​the foundry and the press shop. An application for the paint shop is still being examined.

The automaker is sticking to its schedule. Tesla wants to manufacture electric cars in Grünheide from July 2021. In a first stage are 500. 000 vehicles per year with around 12. 000 employees. Conservationists and residents criticize the project and fear, among other things, problems with drinking water. Tesla had lowered the forecast water consumption after criticism. From the well-informed circles it was now said that there would be continuous checks to further reduce consumption. The Brandenburg State Environment Agency is currently evaluating the results of a hearing from critics.

(fpi)