Tesla battery capacity will increase by 50%
August 25, 2020Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the American electric vehicle maker will be able to mass produce batteries with longer lifespan and 50% higher energy density in the next 3-4 years. The announcement came on the eve of the so-called Battery Day, at which Tesla is expected to show improved batteries.
“Long-life batteries produced in large volumes (not just in the laboratory) are just around the corner. Probably 3 to 4 years, ”Musk wrote on his Twitter Monday.
Experts note that the specific energy of the Panasonic 2170 batteries used in the Tesla Model 3 is about 260 watt-hours per kilogram. This means that the new batteries will show a 50 percent increase from the current energy density, which is the key to achieving greater range.
Tesla said Battery Day will take place on the same day as the 2020 AGM, September 22.
The automaker also featured a background image in which several dots are grouped into lines, sparking speculation among the media and fans about what will be showcased at the event.
South Korean battery expert Park Chul Wan said the image could hint at a “silicon nanowire anode,” a revolutionary technology that could potentially dramatically increase both the specific energy of a battery and its lifespan.
Panasonic previously told Reuters that it plans to increase the specific energy of the batteries it supplies Tesla by 20% over 5 years. Tesla is also working with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) to unveil a new low-cost, extended-life battery for the Model 3 sedan in China later this year or early next year.
A very “limited number of shareholders” will be able to attend the Sept.22 event due to pandemic restrictions, and a lottery will be held to select participants, according to the automaker.
