Panasonic Poised to Boost EV Revolution with 4680 Battery Production for Tesla and Beyond

Panasonic, a Tesla partner, is set to increase production of the 4680 electric vehicle battery cells, following the completion of setup at its plant in Japan, according to a Monday report by Reuters.

It's said that the business is dispatching test batteries made at its plant located in Wakayama, which is in the western region of Japan, to automotive manufacturers for their consent. Manufacturing is slated to commence following the acquisition of this consent.

Exploring the differences between the 4680 and the 2170 –

Panasonic provides Tesla with battery units, and Tesla is a major supporter of the 4680-cell format. These cells are described by their dimensions, being 46 millimeters wide and 80 millimeters high. This is a size increase from Panasonic's existing 2170 cylindrical cells, which are 21 millimeters in diameter and 70 millimeters in height.

Tesla's head, Elon Musk, has been a proponent of larger battery cells since 2020, believing they are essential for reducing the cost of electric vehicles and for more demanding uses such as in Tesla's Semi and Cybertruck. Tesla has initiated the production of its 4680 cells but has encountered challenges in increasing production. In July, Musk allegedly informed Tesla's battery division that they must resolve these problems or the company would cease using the larger cells.

Upcoming Tesla battery to enhance energy and performance levels

Panasonic had foreseen challenges in manufacturing the latest battery model, warning in 2021 that scaling up production of Tesla's 4680 batteries would demand innovative methods. They also voiced doubts about resolving possible overheating problems. Despite these concerns, the commencement of production has only experienced a slight postponement from Panasonic's 2022 projection. Back then, the firm had predicted that full-scale production would kick off by the close of the fiscal year in March 2024.

Several other manufacturers have considered the idea of producing large-scale batteries, yet Panasonic and Tesla have outpaced them all in terms of rapid expansion. CATL has taken an alternative approach with its cell-to-pack technology, which does away with the modular components typically found in today's battery packs. In 2022, CATL claimed their latest cell-to-pack model could generate 13% more energy than Tesla's 4680 batteries when comparing equal sizes. However, the growth and adoption rate for cell-to-pack technology has been gradual.

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