With the rapid development of the electric vehicle industry, battery technology has become the focus of competition among major manufacturers. Tesla, as the industry leader, any wind and grass of its 4680 battery tugs at the nerves of the market. Recently, rumors about Tesla's possible discontinuation of 4680 batteries have attracted widespread attention in the industry. In this article, China Exportsemi net will try to deeply analyze the truth of this incident, and discuss the technological innovation, market challenges and Tesla's strategic layout of 4680 batteries.
Technological innovation: breakthroughs and challenges of 4680 batteries
The 4680 battery is an important innovation in the field of battery technology for Tesla. This battery has high hopes for its larger size, higher energy density, and faster charging speed. However, technological innovation has not been without its challenges.
- All-tab design: The all-tab technology used in the 4680 battery effectively reduces the internal resistance of the battery and improves the charging and discharging efficiency. According to Tesla's official data, the internal resistance heat of the 4680 battery is only one-fifth of that of the previous generation 2170 battery.
- High-Nickel Cathode Materials: The NCM 811 high-nickel solution used in the cathode of the 4680 battery provides higher energy density. However, the stability and safety of high-nickel materials remain a technical challenge.
- High silicon anode materials: The high theoretical specific capacity of silicon is the key to improving energy density, but the expansion of silicon during charging and discharging needs to be alleviated by battery structure design.
Figure: Tesla's 4680 battery production storm
Market challenge: the double test of mass production and supply chain
The road to mass production of Tesla's 4680 battery is full of challenges. From a technical point of view, the challenges of the dry electrode manufacturing process, the adjustment of the battery structure, and the guarantee of yield are all problems that Tesla needs to overcome. From a market perspective, Tesla needs to balance internal production with external supply chains to ensure a stable supply of 4680 batteries.
- Capacity ramp-up: According to Tesla's 2023 financial report, the production capacity of 4680 batteries is gradually increasing, and there are currently several weeks of finished product inventory, showing Tesla's confidence in the ramp-up of 4680 battery production capacity.
- Supply chain management: Tesla is looking for partners around the world, including China's CATL and BYD, Japan's Panasonic and South Korea's LG Energy Solution, to ensure the stability of battery supply.
Strategic Layout: Tesla's long-term considerations
Tesla's emphasis on 4680 batteries reflects its long-term strategic layout in the electric vehicle industry. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said that 2024 will be the "4680 year", indicating that the 4680 battery will play a core role in Tesla's product line.
- Capacity expansion plans: Tesla plans to build multiple new 4680 battery production lines in 2024 to meet growing market demand. According to industry estimates, the new production line will bring the annual production capacity of 4680 cells to tens of GWh.
- Supplier Network Expansion: Tesla is actively expanding its battery supplier network, which not only helps ensure the stability of battery supply, but also serves as a strategic layout to diversify the global supply chain.
Summary
The discontinuation of Tesla's 4680 battery is actually the market's oversensitivity and misunderstanding of the new technology. Tesla's official response and actual production capacity data show that the production of 4680 batteries is proceeding smoothly as planned. The technological innovation and market challenges of the 4680 battery are part of Tesla's continued leadership in the electric vehicle industry. Tesla's strategic layout shows its deep understanding and long-term planning for the future electric vehicle market. With the maturity of technology and the adaptation of the market, the 4680 battery is expected to become an important force to promote the development of the electric vehicle industry.
