Panasonic exec talks about developing new 4680 battery cell for Tesla

Posted on
31 March 2022
By
Charles Morris

Tesla showed off its new 4680 cell — a table battery cell containing a new chemical that promises to boost efficiency and reduce costs — on Battery Day of 2020, and Panasonic and other battery suppliers have been developing new cells since then. working to do.

Above: A look at the Tesla Model S in Panasonic’s offices (Source: Industry Week)

Panasonic plans to start full-scale production of the 4680 in Japan in 2023. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Panasonic’s Energy Division CEO Kazuo Tadanobu offered some details about the innovative cells.

Tadanobu emphasized the difficulty of growing the new cells, which he said have taken “a tremendous amount of stamina” over the past months. Changing the cell’s format took “quite a nerve,” Tadanobu said, adding that “we didn’t know how to get them.”

Tesla has now declared Panasonic’s new cells viable, and certified that they meet the required level of performance. Panasonic is setting up a prototype production line in Japan, and will begin mass production in the fiscal year beginning April 2023. The company plans to set up two additional production lines at its Wakayama factory in western Japan.

Japanese broadcaster NHK recently reported that the company is considering building a new factory in the US to supply cells to Tesla. However, Tadanobu told Bloomberg that nothing has been finalized yet. For now Panasonic is focused on building a “solid foundation” for future 4680 production at Wakayama, he said, adding that potential new plant locations will be considered based on partnerships and the economics of certain regions.

The large volume of the 4680 cell can reduce pack-level costs for a given capacity, but its size makes it more vulnerable to particulate contamination, which can lead to battery fires.

Tadanobu says Panasonic’s focus on safety will help it maintain a competitive edge, even once Tesla and possibly other battery makers start producing 4680 cells. Panasonic’s ability to “use craftsmanship to maintain safety while increasing battery performance” gives it an advantage, he said, adding that Panasonic has led the development of the cells, and its position as a top manufacturer. doesn’t want to lose.

Tadanobu told Bloomberg that the new cells have the potential to change the world of transportation. They will have a “considerable impact” in helping to reduce the cost of EVs. “The electrification of vehicles is the most impressive revolution that is happening in our society.”

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This article originally appeared in Charged. Author: Charles Morris. Source: Bloomberg

was published

Electric Vehicles, Lithium-Ion Batteries, Panasonic, Tesla, Tesla News, TSLA

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