1、McKinsey Center for Future MobilityThe future of affordable EVs:Breakthroughs in battery pack costsThe shift from internal combustion engines to battery electric vehicles is currently challenged.Achieving cost parity through battery pack cost reduction is key to continue exponential growth.by Clemen

2、s Cepnik and Martin Linder with Andreas Haunreiter and Luca BuscaglioneJanuary 2026Until recently,the shift from internal combustion engine(ICE vehicles to battery electric vehicles(BEVs was steadily gaining momentum,driven primarily by international targets for reducing CO2 emissions.New vehicles s

3、old have bold targets49.5 grams of CO per kilometer(km)by 2030 in the European Union,1 for examplewith related penalties for exceeding fleet targets playing a major role in increased electrification.Despite some slowdown caused by geopolitical trends and constantly changing climate targets,our forec

4、asts show global BEV sales to increase by 18 percent per year by 2030 to meet current regulatory targets.To achieve the projected global ramp-up of zero-emission vehicles,EVs will need to penetrate mass markets before 2030.Although the total cost of ownership(TCO for many EVs(including purchase pric

5、e,maintenance,electricity,taxes,and insurance is better when compared with ICE vehicles in important markets,higher costs and customer prices for BEVs remain significant barriers to faster adoption.The largest cost driver for BEVs is the battery pack,which typically accounts for 30 to 40 percent of

6、a vehicles total cost.Even though costs have fallen significantly in the past few years,large battery packs can cost as much as 15,000 for incumbent OEMs.Still,some Chinese companies have found additional cost advantages of 25 to 40 percent compared with their peers,setting the industry benchmark fo