Photographer: Yuki Furukawa/Bloomberg
Tesla will receive new samples of 4680 batteries manufactured by Panasonic. The Japanese manufacturer plans to start production of the new battery type in 2023.
Panasonic, which is widely known for supplying Tesla batteries, said Wednesday it has sent samples of its larger 4680 format EV battery pack to the Texas-based maker as it prepares for a surge in North American power pack production, according to Reuters. Panasonic said mass production of the new battery should begin in the new fiscal year, which starts on March 1, 2023. Initial production will be at its Wakayama factory in Japan, where the company is to fine-tune the process. Only after that, production will be transferred to North America.
“A pilot line, created first in Japan, made it possible to start large-scale prototype production in May,” said Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic's energy business.
In mid-March, it became known that Panasonic is negotiating a new US plant to supply Tesla and possibly other electric vehicle makers with next-generation lithium-ion batteries. According to sources who asked not to be named, the Japanese company is considering several sites for a multibillion-dollar plant, including one in Oklahoma and another in Kansas. The new plant could start operating as early as 2024, they say.
© 2022, Eva Fox | Tesmanian. All rights reserved.
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About the Author
Eva Fox
Eva Fox joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover breaking news as an automotive journalist. The main topics that she covers are clean energy and electric vehicles. As a journalist, Eva is specialized in Tesla and topics related to the work and development of the company.
