Tesla’s approach to battery technology keeps it ahead in the
EV industry. The most distinguishable and remarkable feature about the brand is
their own battery supply that has been acquired through an exclusive deal with
Panasonic and the companies’ jointly owned battery factory – “Gigafactory” in
Nevada. However, the latest news about Tesla is that the company would invest
in experimenting and developing their own batteries near their main car factory
in Fremont. Elon Musk, founder and CEO, has stated that battery supplies from
Panasonic were insufficient and are one of the main constraints for the
production.
Let’s dig deeper under their model specifications:
Tesla have the following car models Model S and
X – 375 volts and Model 3 – 350 volts. But these figures are not final since
batteries in an
electric car come in a pack that consist of several cells. The models
also come in several levels depending on the stored energy and voltages are not
necessarily the same. Let’s look at how these battery packs are configured
Tesla cars’ only source of power is a battery
pack, also known as Energy Storage System. The battery pack is made up of
several individual cells. Tesla Roadster, Model S and Model X use the 18650
battery cells manufactured by Panasonic exclusively for Tesla. Each one of the
18650 cells is about 64mm long and 18mm in diameter. Actually, it is only
slightly bigger than an AA battery size, almost the same size as batteries used
for laptops. In fact, the press used to refer to the 18650 as “laptop
batteries,” and they are not far from the truth because the earlier Roadsters
used store-bought type cells. It was only in 2010 that Panasonic and Tesla
worked together to improve the battery cells used in Tesla cars to make them
safer and more reliable for automotive use
To lower cost and augment cell efficiency, Tesla built a
huge battery manufacturing facility in Sparks, Nevada called
Gigafactory 1. The
factory is presently producing a newer and larger battery cell which the
company named 21700 or 21-70 since it has a diameter of 21 mm and height of 70
mm. The 21-70 was initially used for the Powerpack, Tesla’s utility storage
products and the
Powerwall, the company’s home storage products. It is also
presently being used for the Tesla Model 3 electric car. The new battery cell
is not only bigger but also cheaper to produce than the 18650. According to
some reports, the 21-70 is not only 40% bigger in volume but is also more
energy efficient by as much as 10% to 15% than the 18650.
Tesla batteries chemistry:
Nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) chemistry is being used for the
Li-ion 21-70 as well as for the earlier 18650. Meanwhile, nickel cobalt oxide (NMC) is being used for the Powerpack and Powerwall batteries. The NMC has lower
energy density but has extended life cycle. If there are any chemical changes
done on the 21700, it is an enigma since Tesla has not revealed it, but rumors
persist that the company has increased the silicon content of the anode to
bring about better charge density.
How to charge a Tesla:
A Tesla and in fact all EVs can be charged from virtually
any kind of electrical outlet. A Tesla comes with a plug for the standard
residential outlet, and another plug that fits high current outlets that you
can find at RV parks. It’s hard to run out of energy in a Tesla, if you are
mindful. The navigation screen shows you how much energy it takes to reach your
destination and how much you’ll have left upon arrival. If it looks like,
you’ll run short the navigation screen also shows you where Tesla’s superchargers and
destination chargers are located along your route. The Plug share app on your
phone shows a multitude of chargers available all over the country. If you somehow
manage to run low on energy you can dramatically extend your range simply by
slowing down. Instead of driving 70 MPH drive 60 or less if feasible. If you’re
running low Tesla’s nav even recommends the required speed.
To sum up, it looks like Tesla are making a huge step ahead in
Electrical Vehicles development and we all hope that it would lead to a better,
environmentally friendly future.
BatteryRush.Com
View Store
• Contact us
|