Tesla cooperates with Asian companies to solve problems with batteries
2023.03.10 02:49
Tesla cooperates with Asian companies to solve problems with batteries
By Ray Johnson
Budrigannews.com – At Tesla (NASDAQ:), time is of the essence. Inc., where Elon Musk is trying to figure out how to make batteries that are better and cheaper.
People who are familiar with the plans say that the maker of electric vehicles is looking for Chinese and Korean material suppliers to help lower the cost and increase the energy of its newest battery cells. This is happening despite the fact that the company is having problems with battery performance and production that have pushed back the launch of its futuristic Cybertruck.
According to anonymous sources, Tesla has hired Ningbo Ronbay New Energy and Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing in China to help reduce materials costs as it increases production of 4680 battery cells in the United States.
The specifics of these arrangements have not been reported previously.
The 4680 could ultimately be the linchpin rather than the choke point in CEO Musk’s dream of producing 20 million vehicles annually by 2030 if the Austin, Texas-based electric vehicle manufacturer is able to iron out the performance and process kinks and meet its ambitious production targets.
Tesla and Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
According to one of the sources, Tesla has also agreed to supply Korea’s L&F Co. with high-nickel cathodes as part of its efforts to boost the energy density of its 4680 cells.
The automaker intends to increase its own output with 4680 cells from Panasonic (OTC:) and LG Energy Solution (Korea). according to two of the sources, an insurance policy to guarantee future production of EVs. According to one of the sources, cells for Cybertruck are anticipated to come from LG and Panasonic.
Musk warned investors at the start of March that a lack of batteries would cause “the factories to stall.”
The company’s first new model in more than three years, the edgy stainless-steel Cybertruck, is expected to be launched late this year thanks in large part to the new battery.
Tesla had considered three battery choices to guarantee that send off isn’t deferred once more: According to sources, the EV manufacturer preferred waiting until the 4680 cells are ready, despite the smaller 2170 cells that are utilized extensively in other Tesla models, the 4680 cells, and the less expensive lithium iron phosphate cells.
The use of 4680 cells and consideration of other options for Tesla’s Cybertruck battery strategy have not been reported.
Musk stated in 2022 that he did not anticipate 4680 batteries being a “limiting factor for Cybertruck or anything else.”
The 4680 cell, designed by Tesla and given its external dimensions of 46 millimeters in diameter and 80 millimeters in length, is important to the plans for future production. According to the sources, Tesla intends to produce versions for use in Model Y and Cybertruck vehicles at factories in Texas, California, Nevada, and Berlin.
Musk, however, acknowledged at Tesla’s investor day on March 1 that the first wave of production is still struggling to ramp up.
Some analysts are still hopeful that Tesla will find a solution to the immediate issues.
“Tesla’s impact on the global battery industry may still be underestimated,” according to Morgan Stanley (NYSE:) “While execution risk remains and many details are unknown.” said following investor day.
The new cell was first mentioned by Musk at Battery Day in September 2020. At that event, he said that a series of new innovations, including a larger cell size and a new “dry” electrode coating process, would cut the cost and size of a battery factory by 50 percent while improving cell performance.
The long-awaited Cybertruck, which was intended to take advantage of the cell’s potential improvement in energy density and power, has also been delayed due to repeated delays in moving the new cell from the initial prototype phase to full-scale production. These advancements have not yet materialized.
However, suppliers will need time to increase production.
At its Wakayama factory in Japan, Panasonic operates a pilot 4680 production line and plans to begin volume production later in the fiscal year that ends in March 2024.
According to Panasonic Energy’s chief technology officer, Shoichiro Watanabe, the company’s new Kansas battery plant will initially concentrate on 2170 cells but will eventually move 4680 production to North America.
Last year, LG said it wanted to open another 4680 creation line at its Ochang plant in Korea in the final part of 2023.
According to those involved, Tesla’s first-generation 4680 cells, which were manufactured at its factory in Fremont, California, did not meet a target for energy density.
According to the sources, the automaker has so far been able to dry coat the anode, which is the negative electrode. However, the company is still having issues dry coating the cathode, which is where the most significant gains are anticipated to be made.
According to Musk and Tesla executives, the company’s attempt to increase production of the dry coating process has only produced enough batteries to power about 50,000 vehicles annually.
Musk stated that Tesla would have sufficient internal capacity in 2020 to produce 4680 Model Ys.
The company is hedging, even though executives predicted that Tesla’s 4680 output would likely increase by fivefold by the end of the year.
Musk is betting that Tesla will have a good problem if it has too many batteries this year. Those could be put to use in the energy storage systems that it sells to utilities and consumers.
Tesla likewise has been introducing original 4680 cells with “wet” cathodes in alleged underlying packs in Texas-assembled Model Ys. The older 2170 cells are used in the majority of those vehicles.
According to two sources, Tesla intends to use a cathode containing more than 90% nickel in the next generation of 4680 cells. Another source stated that L&F is anticipated to be one of the suppliers of that high-nickel cathode.
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