Panasonic plans to improve Tesla batteries to make electric vehicles cheaper

Panasonic intensifies its partnership with Tesla, announcing improvements in the 2170 batteries for Model 3 and Model Y. With an increase in energy density, the company plans to open a factory in the USA, aiming to reduce the prices of electric vehicles.

In a strategic move, Panasonic revealed plans to produce an improved version of the 2170 batteries, widely used in Tesla models such as the popular Model 3 and Model Y. In addition to increasing the energy density of these cells, the Japanese company aims to optimize the pace of production, including the opening of a new factory in the United States. This initiative will not only improve the performance of electric vehicles, but also has the potential to positively impact costs, contributing to reducing the prices of these vehicles. automobiles.

See: Panasonic outlook for global electric vehicle demand

Tesla and Panasonic: Partnership strengthened in battery production

Currently responsible for approximately 10% of global production of batteries for electric vehicles, Panasonic maintains a crucial partnership with Tesla, which is its main customer in the United States.

Panasonic's Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Shoichiro Watanabe, said in an interview with Bloomberg that production of improved versions of the 2170 cells will begin at the factory in Nevada, USA, between 2024 and 2025.

The notable improvement in the energy density of batteries means that fewer cells will be needed to build an electric vehicle, potentially resulting in a decrease in the overall price, as highlighted by Watanabe.

Panasonic plans to quadruple battery production by 2030 to reduce electric vehicle prices

The CTO expressed the goal of quadrupling the production of batteries for electric vehicles by 2030, without the need to invest in new manufacturing facilities.

The company plans to improve the pace of manufacturing, aiming to meet the growing demand for high-quality batteries.

In parallel with these advances, a 2170 cell production facility is under construction in De Soto, Kansas.

However, this unit has been redesigned to handle larger 4680 batteries intended for future Tesla models.

Amid these developments, the company is about to announce a third factory, reinforcing its 2030 production goals.

Panasonic strengthens its presence in the US

Watanabe's statements come at a strategic time, coinciding with measures by the Biden administration that offer subsidies to the manufacturing of battery cells in the United States, attracting the most disruptive renowned companies like Panasonic to contribute to the sector.

Recently, the company closed a deal to acquire nano-composite silicon anode material from a Californian company, promising to increase the range of electric vehicles for “uninterrupted trips of 800 kilometers and recharges of 10 minutes”.

These advances indicate an important phase for the electric vehicle industry, with Panasonic playing a crucial role in technological evolution and expanding infrastructure for sustainable purposes.

Source: Olhar Digital