Panasonic Unveils a 5x More Energy Storage Battery for Tesla

Thursday, October 28, 2021 | Chimniii Desk

Key Points

Now, with the cooperation of Japan's largest technology company, the new battery will have five times the storage capacity and will aid Tesla in lowering its manufacturing costs.
Panasonic's work follows Tesla's lead in developing a 4680 battery with dimensions of 46mm x 80mm.
The new 4680 battery is expected to provide more energy and thus improve battery performance.
Tadanobu, however, stated that the company has no intentions to produce Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) electric vehicle batteries, which Tesla is pursuing.
Panasonic will continue to be the exclusive external manufacturer and supplier of the 4680 batteries for the time being, while LG and CATL may follow suit.

While Tesla's least efficient vehicle is still more than 20% more efficient than the nearest competition, Panasonic has developed a prototype that could expand the gap and enable Tesla to realise its future battery goals.

Tesla has been a leader in the electric vehicle (EV) sector for years and has committed to significant upgrades and advancements in future batteries. Now, with the cooperation of Japan's largest technology company, the new battery will have five times the storage capacity and will aid Tesla in lowering its manufacturing costs.

Additionally, Panasonic announced that its most recent endeavour, the creation of Tesla's 4680, will be built just for Tesla automobiles. This further cements the relationship between the two organisations. Panasonic's energy business head, Kazuo Tadanobu, introduced the battery prototype at a recent media roundtable, citing the "strong demand of the other side" as the reason for the product's development.

No precise date has been announced for the start of full-scale manufacture of the 4680 batteries, although the business intends to begin "test production" early next year. Panasonic's work follows Tesla's lead in developing a 4680 battery with dimensions of 46mm x 80mm.

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Solutions for Energy

Manufacturers of electric vehicles are constantly working to improve battery performance by increasing driving range and charging speeds. When EV manufacturers develop battery cells, they may encounter additional concerns like as increased battery size, which creates space-saving challenges and possibly heat management issues.

The new 4680 battery is expected to provide more energy and thus improve battery performance. Additionally, these batteries will be 50% less expensive to manufacture than competing types, boosting Panasonic's manufacturing 100-fold over the next decade.

While the 4680 batteries provide certain energy solutions, their increased size has raised concerns about thermal management. Elon Musk has addressed some of these issues on Twitter, writing, "Our new cell is 46mm in diameter with a steel casing, yet even that presented a significant propagation resistance challenge."

Tesla's approach, which Panasonic may use in production, was introduced at last year's 'Battery Day' event and entails altering the form factor of the battery by incorporating coolant tubes above and below the cells to remove excess heat. By combining this with a new tab-less battery architecture, Tesla has discovered the best thermal management formula for their 4680 batteries.

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Company Relationships

Panasonic has constantly collaborated with Tesla to develop creative and practical battery solutions, previously producing an enhanced 2170 lithium ion-cell for the Tesla Model 3 in 2017.

Panasonic Vice President Kazuo Tadanobu stated that the decision to proceed with 4680 production was made "because of the other party's great desire, and we believe this can only result in better ties."

Since 2012, when the Model S was introduced, the Japanese electronics giant has been a Tesla partner. Tadanobu, however, stated that the company has no intentions to produce Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) electric vehicle batteries, which Tesla is pursuing.

As a result, Tesla has begun diversifying its portfolio and network of battery makers, partnering with LG Energy Solutions of South Korea and CATL of China, as well as bringing some production in-house.

While LFP batteries are safer and more affordable than nickel-based batteries, they have a lower energy density and require more frequent charging. Additionally, LFP batteries are more environmentally beneficial than other types of batteries since they use fewer rare earth minerals.

Tesla does intend to procure LFP batteries from China's CATL and put them in select Model 3 and Model Y entry-level vehicles. By expanding its network of battery suppliers, Tesla hopes to lower the price of its entry-level vehicles while also inspiring innovation in fuel cell production.

Tadanobu indicated no anxiety about Tesla's supplier diversification, stating that the EV manufacturer was prepared to purchase anything Panasonic produced because to the high demand for electric vehicles. Panasonic will continue to be the exclusive external manufacturer and supplier of the 4680 batteries for the time being, while LG and CATL may follow suit.

Additionally, Panasonic's test production timeline appears to coincide with Tesla's planned launch of its high-end vehicle lineup next year, which will include the much-anticipated Cybertruck. Tesla also stated recently that it will supply the initial run of 4680 vehicles from its Freemont, California, plant, but expects its partners, including Panasonic, to assist with increased numbers.

"Tesla has incredibly high expectations for shipments from our North American manufacturing," Tadanobu remarked.

Panasonic's recent expansion has resulted in an increase in yearly battery capacity in North America: 38-39 gigawatt-hours, up from 35 gigawatt-hours in the fiscal year ending March 2021. As a result, this amount would be adequate to power the batteries in almost 400,000 Tesla Model S vehicles.

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