Panasonic opens up about the evolution of its battery tech for Tesla [Video]

Tesla’s next-generation battery cell is steadily moving closer to production. The company showed off its new 4680 cell—a tabless battery cell with a new chemistry that promises to boost efficiency and reduce costs—at 2020’s Battery Day event. Since then, several of Tesla’s battery suppliers have reportedly been working on production versions of the 4680 cell.

Above: Years ago, Tesla was showcased front-and-center at a Panasonic's CES trade show booth (Source: Business Wire) 

Now Panasonic has unveiled its version of the Tesla 4680 cell. The Japanese giant, Tesla’s oldest battery partner, says it has solved several technology challenges presented by the larger cell, and plans to deploy a prototype production line.

Above: How Panasonic's batteries have evolved (Source: Panasonic)

Kazuo Tadanobu, the head of Panasonic’s battery division, said the new cell has five times the capacity of the cells Tesla currently uses. He added that Panasonic plans to start test production of the new cells at a plant in Japan in March 2022.

Above: Panasonic's Shoichiro Watanabe reviews the company's evolution of battery tech and manufacturing (YouTube: Channel Panasonic - Official)

Panasonic’s new CEO, Yuki Kusumi, has said his company is prepared to make “a large investment” in producing the new cells if the results of test production are good.

Above: A look at Panasonic's new, larger 4680 battery cell (Source: Panasonic)

Tesla says it plans to deliver the first vehicles with the new 4680 battery cells sometime in 2022.

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This article originally appeared in Charged. Author: Charles Morris. Source: Wall Street Journal via Electrek