Webasto recharges on all fronts

Little revolution at Webasto: They are venturing into entirely new sectors. For example, battery technology. They showcased a self-developed high-voltage battery system. This marks the company's entry into the development and production of battery systems. The battery is suitable for all cell formats – cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic. The battery systems are designed to be customized to the specific requirements of manufacturers. The expertise in thermal management is expected to ensure good performance and long lifespan for the batteries. Webasto can utilize existing global structures and processes.

This naturally includes the charging infrastructure, called Webasto Charging Solutions. The company combines hardware, installation, and services, offering solutions from a single source for manufacturers, private, and commercial customers. At the IAA, Webasto introduced four charging solutions: three stationary charging stations with a power output of 22kW each, and a mobile charging solution with an output of 11kW. The stationary charging station Webasto Pure is the entry-level wallbox and charges with alternating current. Webasto Next is also network- and SmartHome-compatible. Webasto Life is particularly interesting for commercial customers as it allows charging with direct current, ensuring consistently high performance. With Webasto Go, the company also offers a mobile charging solution. The compact, portable charging solution allows for charging on the go. Additionally, they have also considered payment processing for the new online shop. They rely on the payment expert Wirecard. The shop has recently started selling charging solutions for electric cars. In collaboration, Wirecard, as an internationally leading payment service provider, integrates the four payment methods Visa/Mastercard, iDeal, Sofortüberweisung, and PayPal into the webshop. This covers essential national and international payment methods.

But the core areas are also being further developed:
With the high-voltage heater (HVH), the company has already made its entry into electromobility in the thermal sector. The HVH provides warmth in the interior of hybrid and electric vehicles. Following the successful product launch in 2015, the company has strategically further developed the electrical heating device and presented the HVH 100 at the IAA. The heating device is designed for onboard network voltages of up to 870 volts. Additionally, Webasto is expanding its product portfolio in the aftermarket thermal systems sector with an electrically operated auxillary heater for combustion engines.

What does that mean?

At Webasto, the transformations are also causing significant upheavals in the business models. They are taking big and bold, yet well-considered, steps.