Ferrari, BMW, Tesla Shift to Aluminum Wiring for EVs

Ferrari, BMW, Tesla, and Stellantis are replacing copper wiring with aluminum in their electric vehicles to reduce weight and manufacturing costs. The automakers are responding to rising copper prices and seeking to improve EV range and affordability. Aluminum currently costs around one-quarter of the price of copper and offers comparable electrical performance for many automotive uses.

Ferrari initially adopted aluminum wiring in its 296 supercar last year and extensively used it in its new Luce EV, claiming a 20 percent weight reduction. BMW has utilized aluminum cabling since 2011, and Tesla has implemented it in select applications.

China is also encouraging this shift, aiming to replace 25 to 30 percent of copper components with aluminum by 2030 to boost EV range and lower prices. Despite the move, experts note copper will remain important for certain EV applications, potentially seeing a resurgence if prices fall.