Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been advocating the benefits that 4680 batteries can bring, but the 4680 batteries produced at this stage seem to be far from the theoretical performance. index.
@TroyTeslike calculated based on the Tesla Model Y battery life test results released by the EPA and found that the energy density of the 4680 batteries used in a small number of standard battery life Model Y models in the United States is higher than the 2170 batteries commonly used by Tesla around the world 13% lower, only 229Wh/kg (4680 battery produced in Texas is rated at 244Wh/kg, but theoretically can reach more than 300wh/kg).
As a comparison, the best battery of the CATL, “Kirin Battery”, has been mass-produced in March this year. It took only 9 months from release to mass production, and the nominal energy density can reach 255Wh/kg (the lithium iron phosphate core is 160Wh/kg). kg), and surpasses the 4680 battery in terms of volume utilization, while the BYD blade battery can reach 140Wh/kg.
This may also be one of the reasons why Cybertruck’s mass production time has been pushed back and forth. This pickup is in great need of a new generation of 4680 batteries with higher energy density. Tesla executive Drew Baglino said the company plans to ramp up production of 4680 battery cells steadily ahead of next year’s Cybertruck production.
Tesla has already produced 4680 batteries in small batches in California and Texas factories. By the end of 2022, the company said, it could produce the batteries for more than 1,000 vehicles a week, equivalent to about one-fifth of the annual capacity of its Texas factory.
Panasonic, another Tesla supplier, announced on Wednesday that due to difficulties in achieving production and performance targets, it has decided to postpone the commercial mass production of 4680 batteries (currently Panasonic is only running a 4680 trial production line at its factory in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan), The latest plan is to start production from April to September 2024, later than previously scheduled (April 2023 to March 2024).
In addition, LG Energy Solutions, Tesla’s South Korean supplier, said last month that it planned to build a new 4680 battery production line at its local factory by the end of this year, but did not say when the batteries would begin mass production.
