Production with climate-neutral balance. Volkswagen is building the ID.3 with a climate-neutral balance. The Zwickau factory, the largest and most efficient electric car factory in Europe, uses 100% green electricity obtained externally. The site includes a highly efficient combined heat and power plant, which it is planned to operate with carbon-neutral gas in the long term. Production of the battery cells, which are externally sourced by Volkswagen, is unavoidably energy-intensive. That is why Volkswagen has obliged its cell supplier to use exclusively green electricity for manufacturing.
Better carbon balance after 100,000 km. Overall, the manufacturing of the ID.3 results in a carbon footprint of 14 tonnes of CO2. However, if the car is systematically charged with sustainably generated, green electricity during the operating phase, it will achieve a better climate balance than a comparable model with combustion engine after around 100,000 kilometres. Volkswagen determined these values as part of a certified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The analysis takes into account all of the around 4,000 individual parts contained in the bill of materials of the ID.3. It covers the entire upstream supply chain right up to the natural rubber for the tyres and the mine that extracts iron ore for the body panels.
The measures implemented in Zwickau and at the cell supplier reduce the 14-tonne impact by 1.3 tonnes. The rest is offset by a major climate protection measure with certified carbon credits on the Indonesian island of Borneo which is managed by a specialist partner. The Katingan Mataya Forest Protection Project protects a 149,800-hectare tropical forest on carbon-rich peat soil from deforestation. Work is also already taking place on similar projects in Asia and South America.
A clean future. Volkswagen is working on further minimising carbon emissions in the value chain.When the ID.3 reaches the end of its service life, its battery can be reused in second life concepts – or it becomes a source of raw materials after recycling. A pilot plant for this is already being built at the Salzgitter site, where Volkswagen is setting up a battery cell production facility together with the Swedish company Northvolt.