- The new battery design is half as expensive to make, relative to its capacity added the report
- The 4680 cells are expected to have 5X the energy density and 6X more power than Tesla’s existing batteries
As per a report by Nikkei Asia, Tesla Inc supplier Panasonic will build a prototype production line for the Tesla 4680 battery cells at its existing facilities as early as 2021. It added that the cost of the project is expected to run into tens of millions of dollars. It could lead to a new supply agreement with Tesla. The new battery design is half as expensive to make, relative to its capacity added the report.
The report said that Tesla had unveiled a new tabless battery cell ‘4680’ in a bigger format with new chemistry and announced its plan to produce it in-house on ‘Battery Day’.The 4680 cells are expected to have 5X the energy density and 6X more power than Tesla’s existing batteries. Tesla’s new cells are also predicted to cost 56% less to produce per kWh added the report.
Continue to use other battery manufacturers
The report added that CEO Elon Musk had also added at the event that Tesla would continue to use other battery manufacturers and buy the battery cell supply they can get to support its ambitious growth plan. Panasonic’s chief financial officer Hirokazu Umeda said in October that it started to work “immediately” after Tesla announced the prototype in September. The company was “preparing to set up a prototype production line in parallel,” as per a report by Reuters.
