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Earlier this month, Tesla battery cell provider Panasonic introduced that it’ll delay the business manufacturing schedule of 4680 cells. Some surprise if the information may have an effect on the manufacturing of the Tesla Cybertruck, which is about to start deliveries later this yr.
Above: A Tesla Cybertruck (Picture: Casey Murphy / EVANNEX).
In line with Panasonic’s earlier steering, the corporate deliberate to start manufacturing of its 4680 cells between April 2023 and March 2024. Nevertheless, the electronics manufacturing large now plans to begin 4680 cell manufacturing between April 2024 and September 2024 (by way of Reuters).
Panasonic has determined to delay manufacturing to reinforce 4680 cell efficiency even additional. The corporate has been engaged on producing 4680 battery cells for years in collaboration with Tesla however the two have but to take action at excessive volumes.
Tesla launched the brand new 4680 form-factor cells at its Battery Day occasion in 2020. The automaker arrange a pilot manufacturing facility for the cells at its Fremont manufacturing facility, codenamed Roadrunner on the time.
Shortly after Battery Day, each Panasonic and Tesla introduced plans to arrange a joint pilot manufacturing line at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Sparks, Nevada. Nevertheless, Tesla hasn’t commented on what number of cells this pilot plant is definitely producing.
Panasonic has one other pilot manufacturing line for 4680 cells at its manufacturing facility in Wakayama, Japan. Tesla additionally began a manufacturing line for the cells at its Gigafactory in Austin, Texas in 2021. Since then, the automaker has consistently upgraded the power to hurry up cell output.
In line with Tesla’s newest report on 4680 cells, the electrical carmaker was producing 868,000 items of those cells per week. This might barely be sufficient to make 1,000 Mannequin Y battery packs, and Giga Texas alone lately reached a weekly manufacturing charge of 5,000 Mannequin Ys.
Panasonic’s schedule change is more likely to influence the combination of the brand new cell into current autos, and it may additionally have an effect on Cybertruck quantity manufacturing. In February, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the Cybertruck is slated to start manufacturing later this yr.
Tesla is already manufacturing alpha prototypes of the Cybertruck at Giga Texas. Utilizing Giga Press casting machines from Italian producer IDRA, Tesla is getting nearer to the Cybertruck’s ultimate manufacturing begin every day.
The automaker is constantly making an attempt to scale 4680 cell manufacturing, each at Giga Texas and at its Kato Street constructing close to the Fremont manufacturing facility. Nevertheless, it is not but clear what number of Cybertruck battery packs the amenities can help per week/quarter/yr.
Tesla’s inside 4680-cell manufacturing will not be sufficient to provide sufficient cells for quantity manufacturing of the Cybertruck. Beforehand, Tesla was aiming to scale up Cybertruck manufacturing in 2024, although it is also unclear if this will probably be affected by Panasonic’s delays.
Alternatively, Tesla may discontinue the sale of Mannequin Y with 4680 cells in them and divert the availability to Cybertruck manufacturing. Nonetheless, a Mannequin Y has a roughly 70 kWh battery pack, whereas the Cybertruck is about to be a lot bigger than the Mannequin Y, requiring a bigger battery pack. Tesla hasn’t but disclosed the capability of a Cybertruck battery pack.
Tesla and Musk have but to touch upon how Panasonic’s choice would possibly have an effect on plans to scale up Cybertruck manufacturing. Nevertheless, the 2 have collaborated carefully for years, so Tesla could have already been conscious of Panasonic’s plans.
Supply: Reuters.
Notice: An earlier model of this text was printed at Tesla Oracle. Creator: Iqtidar Ali
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