Tesla is the global leader in electric vehicle manufacturing, with massive expansions in the operations of the company to cover new and uncharted territories. Battery issues provide a critical performance and safety challenge for Tesla’s electric vehicles (EV), as the pursuit of greater range for these batteries may also mean serious safety concerns have to be grappled with. Due to the internal makeup of these EV battery cells, several accidents have been reported that led to battery fires. Some of these incidents were fatal, leading to loss of life.
Tesla has continued to evolve its battery technology, and it unveiled its plan in 2020 to produce a new tabless battery cell, with a new operating mechanism and bigger capacity. The 4680 format highlighted by Tesla last year, the company claims, is capable of producing bigger, cheaper, safer, and more efficient cells. Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solutions are two Korean companies that have now taken bold steps to produce separate 4680 battery cell models, as they eye Tesla’s huge supply contract for the car component.
Tesla is already scaling up its production processes and doing the necessary modifications within its battery factories that may come on board in Germany, China, and the United States. But plans are already in progress as well Tesla to incorporate the 4680 design and technology in partnership with battery manufacturers for the production of improved batteries for its cars. In fact, four of the leading battery manufacturers, including LG Energy Solutions and Samsung SDI, had individually announced plans to build their own versions of the Tesla 4680 battery cell.
Reports monitored from Korea now indicate that both LG and Samsung may have completed the production of samples of the 4680 cell, as the race for the Tesla supply contract gathers steam. The report also shows that both companies are currently carrying out tests on the sample 4680 cells produced, with sights set at 2023 for a possible release of the battery to the market – of course, based on either of the companies nicking the contract.
Tesla will pick from the pool of manufacturers for the supply of the battery, which could debut with the Model Y, according to some sources.
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(source)
