Tesla has introduced that it produced its 100 millionth 4680 battery cell. Right here’s what it means for its manufacturing progress.
The 4680 battery cell is a brand new format, 46mm x 80mm, enabled by just a few new applied sciences that Tesla introduced at Battery Day in 2020.
It’s the primary time that Tesla is manufacturing its personal battery cells – though different cell producers have since introduced plans to construct batteries on this new format.
As with every new know-how, the manufacturing ramp has been tough. 4 years later, Tesla has but to succeed in its purpose for the 4680 cell, however it did announce an necessary milestone this weekend.
Tesla says that it produced its one centesimal millionth 4680 cell:
The Tesla Optimus humanoid robotic holding the cell has reportedly performed a small, emphasis on “small”, position in manufacturing the cell.
What’s the importance of Tesla producing its 100 millionth 4680 cell?
Cumulative manufacturing shouldn’t be a really helpful metric to trace battery manufacturing, however it’s a new information level.
Tesla introduced that it produced its 10 millionth 4680 battery cell in June 2023.
Previous to that, Tesla introduced that it produced its 1 millionth 4680 battery cell in February 2022. Nonetheless, the early manufacturing was at Tesla’s pilot plant in California relatively than Gigafactory Texas. It’s unclear if these depend into the entire.
However we now know that Tesla produced 90 million battery cell within the final 14 months.
The majority of that manufacturing is anticipated to have occurred extra just lately as Tesla is ramping up manufacturing to assist Cybertruck manufacturing.
Tesla’s 4680 cell is believed to have an vitality capability of roughly 100 Wh, which might imply that Tesla has produced about 9 GWh price of 4680 cells over the past 14 months or sufficient for over 60 ,000 Tesla Cybertruck.
Though, a few of these cells have been probably used for Mannequin Y manufacturing earlier than Tesla change to Cybertruck manufacturing.
A month in the past, Tesla stated that it produced its first prototype 4680 batteries with its dry coating cathode – an necessary step towards reaching its targets for the cell.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla seems to be making actual progress by way of ramping up manufacturing of 4680 cells.
Nonetheless, that’s simply a part of the puzzle. The cell is meant to carry value enhancements, vitality density enhancements, and longevity enhancements. These stay to be seen.
We beforehand shared a report that acknowledged CEO Elon Musk gave Tesla’s 4680 staff by the top of the yr to ship on these enhancements. The CEO himself famous that the necessity for Tesla to provide its personal cell has been diminished as different automakers diminished their EV targets – releasing up battery manufacturing capability from producers.
Tesla goals to succeed in value parity with these producers with its personal battery cell by the top of the yr.
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