Panasonic presenterar prototyp Tesla-batteri med 5x energilagring
Tesla har drivit innovation på elfordonsmarknaden (EV) och lovar stora förändringar och framsteg i framtidens batteri. Nu, med stöd av den japanska teknikjätten, kommer det nya batteriet att ha fem gånger så mycket energilagringskapacitet och kommer att hjälpa Tesla att minska produktionskostnaderna.
In addition, Panasonic said the development of its latest project, the Tesla 4680, will be made explicitly for Tesla cars. This further strengthens the bond between the two companies. Kazuo Tadanobu, head of Panasonic's energy business, unveiled the battery prototype at a recent media roundtable, explaining why Panasonic developed the product, saying it was also "a strong desire from the other side."
No details have been released on when the 4680 cells will go into full production, but the company plans to start "trial production" early next year. Panasonic's development closely follows Tesla's own plans to develop the 4680 battery: a battery measuring 46mmx80mm.
energilösningar
I hela elfordonsindustrin har biltillverkare arbetat med att förbättra batterierna genom att lägga till nya räckvidder och laddningshastigheter. När de förbättrar battericeller kan elbilstillverkare stöta på andra problem, såsom en ökning av batteristorleken, vilket resulterar i ett större fotavtryck och potentiella problem med värmehantering.
The new 4680 battery should supply more power, thus improving battery performance. Additionally, these cells will cost 50 percent less to produce compared to other models and will increase Panasonic's production by 100 times over the next decade.
However, while 4680 batteries offer some energy solutions, they are larger in size and raise questions about thermal management. Musk recently explained on Twitter in response to some questions: "Our new battery is 46mm in diameter and has a steel case, and even that will be a huge challenge to fight transmissibility."
Panasonic may adopt Tesla's workaround in production, which was unveiled at last year's "Battery Day" event, changing the form factor by placing cooling pipes above and below the battery to dissipate excess heat. When combined with an innovative label-free battery design, Tesla found a formula for optimal thermal management in its 4680 cells.
företagsförhållande
Panasonic har arbetat med Tesla för att hitta innovativa och praktiska batterilösningar, efter att ha byggt ett förbättrat 2170 litium-jonbatteri för Tesla Model 3 2017.
Kazuo Tadanobu, vice president of Panasonic, said the decision to move forward with production of the 4680 was "because of a strong desire from the other side, and we thought it would make our cooperation even closer".
Det japanska-baserade elektronikföretaget har varit Tesla-partner sedan det först lanserade Model S 2012. Tadanobu sa dock att företaget inte har några planer på att leverera litiumjärnfosfat (LFP) elfordonsbatterier som Tesla letar efter .
As a result, Tesla began to diversify its battery maker portfolio and network, striking deals with South Korea's LG Energy Solutions and my country's CATL, and moving some production in-house.
Litiumjärnfosfatbatterier (LFP) är säkrare och billigare än nickel-baserade batterier, men har lägre energitäthet och kräver högre laddningsfrekvenser. Dessutom är litiumjärnfosfatbatterier (LFP) mer miljövänliga eftersom de kräver mindre sällsynta jordartsmetaller.
Tesla does plan to source lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries from my country's CATL and install them in some of its entry-level Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. By adding to its network of battery suppliers, Tesla also aims to make its entry-level cars more affordable, while hoping to spark innovation in the manufacture of fuel-powered lithium-ion batteries.
Tadanobu expressed little concern about Tesla's diversification of supply, saying the electric car maker is ready to buy everything Panasonic makes due to high demand for electric vehicles. For now, Panasonic will remain the only external manufacturer and supplier of 4680 batteries, although LG and CATL may follow.
Additionally, Panasonic's pre-production schedule appears to be in line with Tesla's next year's launch of its line of premium vehicles, including the highly anticipated Cybertruck. Tesla also recently confirmed that its 4680 trial production at its Fremont, Calif., plant will supply the first vehicles, but its partners, including Panasonic, are expected to help support the additional production.
"Tesla has very high expectations for shipments from our North American plant," Tadanobu said.
Panasonic's recent expansion saw its North American annual battery capacity additions: 38-39 GWh, up from 35 GWh in the year ending March 2021. So that's enough to meet the battery needs of more than 400,000 Tesla Model Ss.
