On February 17, Taiwan media DigiTimes reported that Tesla CEO Musk said on a conference call that the 4680 battery (based on the traditional ternary lithium battery transformation) produced at the Austin plant in Texas will be preferentially used on the Model Y. Market sources expect the Model Y to use the battery by the end of the first quarter.
Before Tesla Battery Day in 2020, Tesla and Panasonic discussed, and after studying the cost, the balance of the vehicle itself, and other possibilities brought by the cylindrical battery, the 4680 was confirmed as the best size for automotive batteries. Compared with the 2170 battery, the 4680 battery can provide 6 times the power, and the vehicle endurance is increased by 16%.
The 4680 battery produced at the Austin plant will most likely be prioritized for the North American market. After meeting the demand for Model Y models in the North American market, it is possible to supply them to China, Europe and other markets.
In terms of suppliers, Panasonic has maintained a good cooperative relationship with Tesla, and is also the fastest in the cooperation of 4680 batteries, and has initially mass-produced 4680 batteries. LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI have completed the development of 4680 battery samples, and CATL plans to mass-produce 4680 batteries in 2022.
China as Tesla's largest market, the domestic Model Y to replace with 4680 batteries, the high probability is provided by LG Energy Solution and Ningde Times, these two who can give priority to Tesla's orders, depending on which one of the research and development speed.
In the domestic Model Y model, the basic version will definitely use the lithium iron phosphate battery of the Ningde era, the high-performance version, the long-endurance version should be replaced by a 4680 battery, and consumers who pay attention to battery life can be more.
The 4680 battery produced by the supplier, in addition to meeting Tesla's needs, may also be supplied to external manufacturers later, panasonic CEO has previously expressed this view. After the advent of the 4680 battery, it will affect BYD's market position. BYD has a deep technical accumulation in the field of lithium iron phosphate batteries, and the cost performance of this battery is quite high, so BYD's Qin, Han and other models are not afraid to fight price wars with opponents. The cost performance of the 4680 battery is greatly improved compared with the traditional ternary lithium battery, and other manufacturers can release more cost-effective models.