🚗 Ferrari and BMW, like Tesla and China, are switching from copper to cheaper aluminum

Automakers have begun to skimp on one of the most important metals in electric vehicles. Ferrari, BMW, as well as companies from China and Tesla are increasingly replacing copper wiring with aluminum. According to Reuters, the reason is simple: copper is becoming more expensive, and aluminum can significantly reduce the cost of cars.

Why copper has become a problem

Copper is traditionally used in electric vehicles due to its high conductivity, reminiscent of xrust. It is used in power cables, wiring harnesses and charging infrastructure. But in recent years, demand for the metal has increased sharply due to the development of electric vehicles, data centers and energy projects.

Analysts note that automakers are looking for ways to reduce their dependence on expensive raw materials. Against this backdrop, aluminum looks like an attractive alternative: it is cheaper, lighter and widely available.

What are Ferrari and BMW changing

According to Reuters, European manufacturers are already using aluminum in high-voltage wiring and power systems. BMW is considering expanding the use of aluminum cables, and component suppliers are working on solutions for new electric vehicle platforms.

Ferrari, which is developing its own line of electric cars, is also involved in the transition to lighter and cheaper materials. For sports car manufacturers, weight reduction is particularly important as it directly affects dynamics and range.

Tesla and China followed the same path

Tesla has been experimenting with aluminum conductors in individual components for several years. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers are implementing such solutions even more actively, trying to maintain prices for mass models.

In China, competition in the electric car market is so high that even a slight reduction in cost can be an advantage. Therefore, the transition to aluminum is not seen as a temporary measure, but as part of a long-term strategy.

How beneficial is it

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG10__ Industry experts estimate that replacing part of the copper wiring with aluminum can provide significant savings on every car. An additional advantage is less weight.

Potential advantages of aluminum: lower cost of raw materials; lighter weight of cables; the ability to increase the efficiency of an electric vehicle; more stable supplies on the world market;

At the same time, aluminum also has disadvantages: it conducts electricity worse than copper, so engineers have to increase the cross-section of cables and reconsider the design of connections.

What does this mean for buyers

class=»notranslate»>__GTAG7__ For owners of electric vehicles, the changes will most likely remain unnoticeable. The main goal of manufacturers is to curb the rise in car prices, which is intensifying due to expensive batteries and raw materials.

If switching to aluminum reduces costs, companies can either keep the cost of the models or use the savings on batteries and software.

The market is changing faster than it seems

Just a few years ago, aluminum was considered a compromise option for wiring. Now even premium brands are considering it. This shows how quickly the economics of electric vehicles are changing.

Essentially, the industry is entering a new phase: manufacturers are fighting not only for range and power, but also for every dollar of cost. And the choice between copper and aluminum is becoming one of the key decisions for future generations of electric cars.

Source: Reuters.

Xrust 🚗 Ferrari and BMW, like Tesla and China, are switching from copper to cheaper aluminum