PANASONIC

Company delays production of Tesla’s new battery to improve performance

Panasonic has announced that it will delay commercial production of Tesla’s 4680 batteries as it aims to improve their performance. Their mass production will now begin within the first half of 2025, with Panasonic claiming that the delay is due to its decision to introduce improvements in battery performance, which will further strengthen its competitiveness.

The Japanese company had hoped to begin mass production of the 4,680 batteries at the end of March 2024.

Panasonic is running a pilot production line of 4680 batteries at its Wakayama plant in Japan, while Tesla already produces the 4680 batteries, which Elon Musk has touted as the key to making cheaper and more exciting electric cars.

Tesla plans to steadily ramp up production of the 4,680 batteries before Cybertruck production begins next year. Tesla currently uses these batteries in the base version of the Model Y produced at the Gigafactory in Texas.

The name of the 4680 battery comes from its dimensions (46mm wide by 80mm high), and the cylindrical battery cell follows a spiral approach.

The new battery features changes in electrode materials, improved cell design and improved manufacturing processes, with the new design improving its performance (electrical and thermal) while also becoming a structural component of the car.

In the battery pack there are 960 cells (40×24), instead of about 24,000 cells that are placed in a battery pack with 2170 cells. This is made possible because the 4680s store about 5 times more energy, with their energy density reaching/ exceeds 300 Wh/kg, which – according to Elon Musk – reduces the cost per kWh by 56%.

The new battery provides 6 times more power and 16% more autonomy, with the problem of thermal management solved due to the cylindrical design, offering a shorter electrical path to the cells.

Kyriakos Pilidis