Tesla To Use 4680-Type Battery Cells In Megapacks: LFP Or NCM?

Tesla not too long ago introduced an intention to make use of its all-new 4680-type cylindrical battery cells in battery vitality storage methods (BEES), just like the Megapack, Powerpack, or possibly even Powerwall.

The brand new sort of cell is presently used solely within the Tesla Mannequin Y produced in Texas (a minimum of a few of them, because the manufacturing unit additionally makes automobiles powered by 2170-type cells).

It is an attention-grabbing factor, as a result of so far as we all know, the present Tesla in-house 4680 cells are based mostly on the NCM 811 cathode chemistry, whereas within the case of BEES, the corporate want to make a transition from NCA/NCM to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry.

If we perceive it accurately, the subsequent technology vitality storage methods from Tesla could be LFP, however in a 4680 cell format. In any other case, if Tesla would follow the NCA or NCM, then there could be no transition to LFP. The third situation is a mixture of merchandise – 4680-type cells (NCA/NCM) in some merchandise, and prismatic LFP cells in some merchandise.

The information was shared by the way in which of the announcement of the brand new $3.6 billion funding on the Tesla Giga Nevada, which is able to carry 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) battery cell manufacturing (4680-type) to the manufacturing unit. The plant already produces 37+ GWh of 2170-type cells yearly (in partnership with Panasonic).

Tesla Giga Nevada: Enlargement Plans

Tesla Giga Texas: 4680-type battery cell manufacturing (Tesla This fall 2022 report)

100 GWh is an enormous quantity of batteries. Tesla estimates that it is sufficient for 1.5 million light-duty automobiles.

Then again, if the corporate plans to supply as much as 50,000 Tesla Semi per 12 months (in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later), and one truck requires as much as 900-1,000 kWh of batteries (within the 500-mile vary model), then we’re speaking about 50 GWh/12 months for the Semi alone.

The remaining 50 GWh/12 months is likely to be used for native manufacturing of battery vitality storage methods. Tesla will even require 40 GWh of batteries for its new Megapack manufacturing unit in Lathrop, California.

Within the long-term, the Giga Nevada plant would possibly produce as much as 500 GWh of 4680-type battery cells (it might require additional investments), whereas the corporate could be at 1,000 GWh/12 months globally. Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk hints that possibly it’ll even attain 2,000-3,000 GWh/12 months yearly sometime (excluding exterior suppliers).

Tesla Giga Nevada section two funding:

$3.6 billion
4680-type cylindrical battery cell manufacturing
100 GWh/12 months initially (as much as 500 GWh/12 months sooner or later)
Tesla Semi manufacturing
3,000 further jobs

The plant is already producing 2170-type cylindrical battery cells (in partnership with Panasonic) at round 37+ GWh/12 months, battery modules and packs, vitality storage merchandise, and drive models/energy electronics.

To this point, the plant produced 7.3 billion battery cells, 1.5 million EV battery packs, 3.6 million drive models, and 1 million vitality storage modules (14+ GWh).

Tesla Giga Nevada section one funding: