New Tesla Supercharger station to open in Hungary

New Tesla Supercharger in Pécs

The Pécs Tesla Supercharger station could be activated at any moment, with the official opening planned for 13 September, when test drives will also be available for interested visitors.

According to the portal, the charging points may become operational as early as today.

This facility is significant as it will be the first Supercharger station in Hungary equipped with the most advanced v4 charging columns.

This new technology features longer cables, which will make charging much easier for non-Tesla electric vehicles. Another advantage is that the system enables direct payment by bank card, eliminating the need for a separate app.

The parking area of Pécs' Decathlon and Tesco stores was chosen as the location, primarily to offer visitors to the city and its surroundings convenient charging options. However, at a distance of around 40 kilometres from the M6 motorway, it may necessitate a considerable detour for travellers heading towards the country border.

CATL to readjust Debrecen plant

China's Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world's largest battery manufacturer, is converting its Debrecen plant to produce cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion batteries, as well as traditional ternary lithium-ion cells, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.

Production at the plant is scheduled to begin in late 2025 or early 2026.

Speaking at the Munich Motor Show, Matt Shen, CATL's European Director, said that large fluctuations in lithium prices in recent years have caused uncertainty in the industry, prompting the company's customers to consider alternative technologies.

Despite fluctuating demand for electric cars, CATL continues to expand in Europe, supplying car manufacturers such as Tesla and BMW. CATL has already unveiled two LFP batteries designed specifically for the European market and is negotiating supply agreements with car manufacturers.

The Debrecen factory has an initial target of producing 40 GWh of energy per year, enough to power over one million cars. The final target is 100 GWh. Preparations for the second phase are also underway, with module production already in progress.

This is the largest greenfield industrial project in Hungary's history.

Cover photo: Shutterstock