In Cybertruck and Semi, not Robotaxi or 3/Y, Tesla considers a probable switch to 800V

Monday, April 25, 2022 | Chimniii Desk

Tesla's Model Y has been redesigned to be more easily manufactured, with a structural pack, new-format 4680 cells, and massive cast front and rear body parts.

Despite all of this innovation, Tesla has no plans to switch to an 800-volt design on any of its lesser models anytime soon. However, it's a distinct possibility for the Cybertruck, the Semi, and any other larger or higher-power vehicles, according to comments made by CEO Elon Musk and CTO Drew Baglino on the company's Q1 call with analysts and investors on Wednesday.

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"On that platform, there's nothing really motivating us to do so," Baglino said of the Model 3 and Model Y. "It's all about numbers and power... There are some advantages when it comes to larger cars."

Baglino described it as a case-by-case analysis, saying that "with 800 volts, there are some wins and losses; not everything is better."

Musk also stated that switching to 800V will most likely make sense in the future, but that "it really takes a very large vehicle volume to pay for the expense of going from 400 to 800 volts."

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"On larger vehicles, when you're talking about higher power on the charging side or higher power from the battery to the power electronics, or you need more torque, so the current requirements go up, there's a little bit more semiconductor and real conductor savings," Baglino explained. "As a result, we take that into account for Semi and Cybertruck."

Both of those goods have been granted some extra time by the corporation. Tesla has postponed both of those vehicles, as well as the new Roadster, until 2023, claiming a battery shortage at first, then supply chain delays and chip constraints more recently.

Musk promised those products next year at Tesla's massive Texas factory's recent official opening, as well as teasing a "quite futuristic" Robotaxi project, which, he clarified in the call, aims to harness the automaker's self-driving capabilities while lowering the per-mile cost to below that of subsidised public transit.

However, don't expect the Robotaxi to run at 800V.

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"The advantage is questionably modest for the 3/Y platform, where we've got everything operating," Baglino noted, with Musk adding, "it's virtually nil for Robotaxi."

Other automakers, on the other hand, who aren't required to include in the "legacy expenses" of improving Tesla's Supercharger network, may come to different conclusions.

Baglino's investor explanations were almost completely centred on vehicle cost, not efficiency. Meanwhile, Lucid, a rival EV manufacturer, has emphasised that efficiency (in terms of both energy and packaging) was the driving force behind their decision to use more than 900 volts, citing performance benefits as a result of that fundamental decision. Getting a complete system of components to make the most of that 800-volt potential can be difficult, as Porsche discovered with its Taycan, which is why Lucid decided to build a comprehensive suite of key components in-house.

Faster charging would be possible with an 800-volt pack configuration. Musk teased that prospect with the thought of 350-kw charging in 2016, when he tweeted: "A measly 350 kw...what are you referring to, a little children's toy?" before of Supercharger V3 hardware.

The majority of CEOs agree that higher-voltage systems are the way of the future, especially for larger vehicles and performance models. Delphi announced a broad migration to 800V systems for luxury EVs due by 2025 as early as September 2020.

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