Tesla and Its 4680 Battery Issues
Tesla is currently facing a major challenge. Their large-format 4680 battery cells, which were expected to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry, are still experiencing technical problems. According to recent reports, Elon Musk has set a clear deadline for resolving these issues by the end of the year.
Technical Challenges and Their Consequences
The engineers at Tesla need to address a problem that causes these cells to collapse during use. These cells are longer and wider than previous models, bringing new technical challenges. If these problems are not overcome, the project might be entirely abandoned.
The Importance of 4680 Batteries for Tesla
The 4680 cells were announced in 2020 and were presented as the key to more affordable electric vehicles and high-performance applications like the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck. However, production of these cells has yet to reach the expected scale. In 2022, Tesla achieved the production of one million of these cells at their pilot factory, but this is only enough to produce about a thousand Cybertrucks per week.
Pressure on Suppliers
Battery suppliers like Panasonic have repeatedly warned that technical issues with larger cells could hinder mass production. The production of these cells requires new techniques that no one has yet been able to scale as quickly as Tesla and Panasonic.
Future of the Project
If current technical obstacles are not overcome, it could have serious consequences not only for the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck but also for other models like the Model 3 and Model Y. The engineering team now has a clear task: resolve the issues by the end of the year or face abandoning the project.
Source: Greencarreports