Tesla is working towards implementing their 4680 battery cells with dry electrodes by the end of 2024.
In 2020, Elon Musk revealed a plan to produce a US$25,000 electric vehicle (EV), driven by a groundbreaking new battery technology known as the 4680. This cylindrical battery, with its name derived from its dimensions, 46 millimeters in diameter and 80 millimeters tall, stood to potentially revolutionize the EV industry by significantly cutting costs and improving production efficiency.
However, four years later and Tesla has yet to overcome the biggest obstacle, perfecting the dry electrode process. This process, obtained through its acquisition of Maxwell Technologies in May of 2019, is important as it eliminates the need for the time-consuming and costly wet electrode processes. With this process Tesla hoped to speed up production, reduce factory space requirements, and cut manufacturing costs.
Now Tesla may finally be nearing that milestone. According to a report from The Information, citing sources familiar with the plans, CEO Elon Musk challenged the 4680 battery team in May 2024 to refine their processes and achieve cost and scale efficiencies by the end of the year. May is the same month that Bonne Eggleston was appointed as the new head of the 4680 battery program.
Based on a report from China’s LatePost, it appears the team is close to delivering. According to the report, the design of the dry-process was recently finalized, paving the way for mass production.
As of mid-2024, Tesla’s 4680 battery production is ramping up. The company is producing enough batteries to equip more than 1,000 Cybertrucks per week, utilizing a version of the 4680 with a dry-process negative electrode and a wet-process positive electrode.
It isn’t only Tesla working to produce 4680 battery cells. Tesla’s suppliers, such as LG Energy Solutions (LGES) and Panasonic are working to do the same. As of the most recent update from LGES, the company plans to begin production as early as August. Panasonic was originally planning to start production last year, but delayed their timeline to September 2024.
