Tesla has already switched their Megapack from using nickel-based battery cells to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells. In the future however, Tesla plans to also start using their 4680 cells in their stationary storage devices.
The switch to using 4680 cells was revealed by CEO Elon Musk during his presentation at Giga Nevada yesterday to announce its $3.6 billion expansion, which will include new floor space for 4680 production and high-volume Semi manufacturing.
According to Musk the 4680 cell factory at Giga Nevada will have an initial production capacity of 100 Gigawatt hours (GWh) per year. That capacity will grow significantly in the future, up to as much as 500GWh per year. Those cells will not only go into their vehicles but also their stationary storage devices, like the Megapack.
“We expect the new cell factory will produce at least 100gwh, and as I said that’s really just to begin with. Long term Tesla is aiming to produce well over 1,000GWh, possibly 2,000 or 3000 [GWh]…and they will also be using 4680 for stationary storage as well,” Musk explained.
Given that Tesla is still ramping up production of the 4680 cell and only recently reached a milestone of producing 886,000 cells in 7 days, or enough for 1,000 EVs, it will likely be several years before Tesla is producing enough to include them in both their vehicles and stationary storage devices like Megapack, or possibly even Powerwall as well. But with a long term goal of producing up to 3,000GWh per year, supply shouldn’t be an issue in the future.
Tesla switched to using cobalt-free LFP cells in the Megapack in 2021, allowing them to reduce their costs and at the same time ramp up production of the Megapack without impacting their supply of nickel-based battery cells that go into their high-volume cars. The switch to LFP also improved the thermal stability while enhancing the the Megapack’s safety and tolerance to mechanical stress.
You can watch Musk’s full presentation on the expansion of Giga Nevada below, and read more about it here.
