In a quest to increase the range of batteries in its electric vehicles, Tesla is here with a new kind of battery.
Tesla has been known for its innovation in the electric vehicle industry. The company formed by Elon Musk has been at the forefront of innovating new technologies to increase the production of electric vehicles along with new kind of batteries to increase the overall power and range of the vehicles.
Recently, the company hosted an event by the name “Battery Day.” In the event, Tesla and Elon Musk introduced a new form of battery known as the tabless battery. The battery will be produced in-house, resulting in lowering the cost of production that will further lower the cost of Tesla’s electric vehicles. In a way, Tesla aims to sell its electric vehicles for the price of diesel- or petrol-powered vehicle.
The innovation was done by Tesla after the engineers removed the tab- a component of a battery that creates a connection between the cell and the object it is powering. The new cells are being called as 4860 cells by Tesla, which will provide five per cent more power to the electric vehicles along with a 16 per cent increase in the overall range of the vehicle. Furthermore, this new battery will be crucial in bringing down Tesla’s cost per kilowatt-hour as well.
What’s new about the battery?
The cells developed by Tesla are bigger in dimension, measuring 46mm by 80mm. Hence, the name 4860. As mentioned above, the new cell will reduce the cost per kilowatt-hour by 14 per cent. Talking about the battery, Musk said, “You actually have a shorter path length [for the electron to travel] in a large tabless cell than you have in the smaller cell with tabs. So even though the cell is bigger, it actually has more power.”
How does this affect the companies from whom Tesla’s buys batteries?
To fuel its electric vehicles, Tesla buys the existing 2170 cells from Panasonic that are used in the Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. However, Tesla has had a headache in the past with Panasonic. Tesla’s electric vehicles production rate is high, but Panasonic failed to provide the batteries on time. This could very well be the reason why Tesla is moving forward to produce its in-house batteries.
However, it seems Tesla won’t be cutting off ties with the battery producers anytime soon. In fact, Tesla may start ordering more, given its fast production rate.
