Next-Gen Tesla Tech Could Face An Early Death

A new report claims that Tesla and Elon Musk may give up on its cylindrical battery cell design. According to The Information, the charismatic CEO has given the development team a year-end deadline to fix a rather pressing issue. Company insiders say the 4680 batteries are collapsing on themselves while being used, which is a cause for concern. There are also said to be issues cost viability issues regarding the mass production of these cells.

Musk wants this sorted out by the end of the year and, per the unnamed sources, may give up on scaling up the 4680 cells for production if the issue is not rectified. One of the problems stems from the cathode’s dry coating. Initially adopted to improve performance and cost, it does without the expensive wet process, making the vehicle cheaper to build and (hopefully) to buy.

Plenty Of Problems Facing The 4680 Cells

So far, the dry coating has only been used on the anode, but not the cathode. This, and the need to ramp up manufacturing for mass production, are some of the problems facing development. It’s worth noting that the Cybertruck already uses 4680 cells, but reports claim there is just enough for 1,000 units of the electric truck per week – nowhere near enough for anything more than a niche product.

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That is nowhere near enough to supply battery packs for the Model 3 or Model Y, for example, both of which are built in much higher numbers. Tesla first showcased the cell design in 2020 and said at the time that the cost-effective design is crucial to developing a $25,000 electric car. Since then, however, reports have emerged that suggest the entry-level EV has been axed in favor of the robotaxi (which is also facing delays).

Other Reports Suggest Production Will Take Place Before Year-End

Interestingly, a report out of China claims that Tesla is getting ready to introduce the new battery design by the end of the year. According to Late Post, the 4680 cells will be implemented in Chinese-built Tesla cars, with a source telling the publication that mastering the complicated process will place Tesla at the top of its game. It remains to be seen which of these reports is true, but we hope the automaker can rectify its development woes for Tesla’s sake.

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It’s worth noting that Panasonic has previously said the production of 4680 cells is more complex. While there are many positives, the larger cells make it more challenging to build. “Producing these larger cells requires you raise your craftsmanship one or two full levels or there will be safety issues,” said Yasuaki Takamoto, Head of Panasonic EV Battery Business Operation.

Sources:
The Information
,
Late Post