Ever wonder who makes Tesla batteries? Well, you are in the right place to learn everything about Tesla batteries.
Panasonic is the main manufacturer of Tesla batteries. Tesla also builds batteries in-house in their Gigafactories. Some other suppliers for Tesla batteries are South Korean LG Energy Solutions and China’s CATL.
What Are The Battery Options Available From Tesla?
Tesla has been in the automotive business for a very long time. They are considered one of the best at EV manufacturing.
In 2015, they expanded their business into making batteries calling it Energy Generation and Storage. They started with making solar batteries and later went on to develop home and grid battery solutions.
These are the batteries that Tesla uses and offers:
18650-Type
The 18650-Type Li-ion was Tesla’s first integration into electric vehicles. The original Tesla Roadster the Model S and the Model X use these batteries. These batteries are Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum or NCA.
2170-Type
The first few lineups of the Model 3 and Model Y use the 2170-type battery. Each cell contains a 4800 mAh capacity with a maximum rated charge of 4.2V.
This battery type is not exclusive to Tesla vehicles. But they use a special kind of battery made only for Tesla Model 3 and Y. These come in both NCA and NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) variants.
(Source: INSIDEEVs)
4680-Type
The 4680-Type is Tesla’s latest type of Li-ion battery used in Texas-made Model Ys and Tesla Cybertrucks.
These are bulky and larger than their formers. These batteries offer better range and more power compared to any other EV battery.
If we compare the size difference between the three types of batteries here is what they look like:
Prismatic-Type (LFP)
Apart from the three basic types Tesla has now focused on making Lithium Ferro Phosphate or LFP Prismatic-Type batteries.
Tesla announced that the newer Model 3 and Model Y and all future Tesla vehicles will use LFP battery packs (Read related article). These batteries have around 100 cells and a usable capacity of 57.5 kWh.
Apart from the electronic vehicle battery packs Tesla also manufactures home and grid power solutions. They call these the Powerwall and Megapacks respectively.
Read More: Tesla Battery Types: Tesla’s Ultimate Power Guide
About the Manufacturers – Who Makes Tesla Batteries?
Elon Musk found unimaginable potential with lithium-ion batteries. Tesla’s whole battery system solution revolves around these li-ion cells.
While the company is known for its innovative battery solutions, it doesn’t manufacture all its batteries in-house.
Here are Tesla’s battery manufacturers and suppliers:
Panasonic
Tesla has had a longstanding partnership with Panasonic. They are their main lithium-ion provider. You will see most batteries have the Panasonic trademark etched onto them.
Currently, they manufacture these batteries at their battery cell manufacturing facility in Suminoe, Japan.
They have invested in constructing a manufacturing plant in Kansas. Their initial idea was to ramp up capacity to meet the ever-increasing demands for EVs in the US.
Recent developments have led them to add a plant in the Nevada Gigafactory. They will produce 2170-Type cells in the Kansas plant and the 4680-Type in the new Nevada establishment which will be ready in a year or two.
LG Energy Solutions
Tesla has been hungry for more lithium-ion batteries for over a decade. Panasonic used to be their only supplier but recently they have been getting supplies from other companies as well.
LG Energy Solutions supplies lithium-ion batteries for Tesla’s energy storage systems like the Powerwall and Megapack.
They are mainly a South Korean company but have manufacturing plants in various locations such as Arizona (US), South Korea, and China.
According to recent news, LG Energy Solutions will also be manufacturing 4680-Type in the coming years.
C.A.T.L
Their biggest supplier for LFP batteries is Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), which is a Chinese company.
They build batteries for the more affordable EVs. They are a prominent player in the Chinese market and working to expand their business into the global field.
Tesla and CATL have plans to build a US plant soon. However, this relationship is not seen in a positive light among Republicans.
How Long do Tesla Batteries Last?
Tesla batteries are very durable and long-lasting. Most of their batteries will easily cross 200000 miles.
Their warranty policy is 8 years or 150000 miles, whichever comes first. Tesla EV battery is the one part that has the least amount of service calls each year.
Tesla Batteries are quite expensive. They have to provide an extended warranty to ensure the user does not go through the trouble of replacing a battery themselves. Here are the battery prices:
- Model 3 (60 kWh): around $9600
- Model Y (75 kWh): around $12000
- Model X (100 kWh): around $16000
However, battery longevity depends on some external factors as well. These are:
- The type of battery used.
- Driving habits like rapid acceleration or heavy braking.
- Charging to 100% without having a long trip planned. Tesla recommends charging up to 90% for everyday use.
- Battery management and preconditioning.
- Local climate also affects how batteries behave in the long run.
Tesla’s ‘Gigafactory’ Vision
Tesla is trying to change the EV and renewable energy game with their Gigafactories. Their main objective is to scale up the production of their vehicles, batteries, and powertrains.
Currently, they have Gigafactories in these locations:
- GIGA Nevada
- GIGA New York
- GIGA Shanghai
They also have plans to open Giga factories in these locations:
- Giga Berlin
- Giga Texas
- Giga Asia (Rumored)
They want to revolutionize their manufacturing and meet up with the demand of the crowded EV marketplace.
Panasonic, their main battery supplier will be taking over a part of the Giga Nevada to manufacture 4680-Type batteries for their EVs.
This was a strategic decision by Tesla. As they own Giga Nevada, Panasonic can not supply other companies with the batteries they produce here. Tesla will be their partner.
Related Post: How Much Does A Tesla Battery Weigh?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are Tesla batteries Chinese?
Only the batteries in their affordable EV range like the Tesla Model 3 use CATL cells. CATL is a Chinese company.
Are Tesla batteries eco-friendly?
Absolutely. Tesla expends great effort into making their Gigafactories eco-friendly using renewable energy sources.
Can I upgrade my Tesla’s battery?
There are upgrade options for some older models to increase range and efficiency.
