A few days ago, we learned from foreign media that Panasonic will invest $705 million in a Japanese factory to produce 4680 batteries for Tesla. According to the plan, it will be able to officially produce as early as 2023.
Panasonic's plant, which has an annual output of about 10GWh, has reportedly begun preparing to build a test production line. The new 4860 battery is officially unveiled in 2020, and the name of the battery comes from its size, which is 46 mm wide and 80 mm long. The capacity of the new battery will be increased by about 5 times, and the energy density will be increased by about 15%.
In addition to the higher capacity, the new battery is six times more powerful than before, and the cost per kilowatt-hour is reduced by 14%. Taking the Model S as an example, the cruising range of a single charge is about 650 kilometers, and the new battery can increase the mileage to about 750 kilometers.