- CATL is the world’s largest battery maker.
- Its founder and chief, Robin Zang, blasted Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his wager on the 4680-type cylindrical cell.
- CATL provides cells to Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory and makes a speciality of LFP batteries.
Tesla positioned a giant wager again in 2020 when it introduced that it was growing a brand new battery cell format. The 4680 battery, because it’s recognized, powers the Cybertruck and previously, it made its manner into a restricted variety of Mannequin Y crossovers.
The cylindrical cell was touted as being extra energy-dense than the 2170- and 1865-type items discovered within the Mannequin Y and Mannequin 3 and the Mannequin S and Mannequin X, respectively. It’s additionally speculated to be cheaper to fabricate and simpler to assemble.
Lately, Tesla introduced that it produced its 100 millionth 4680 cell. That’s a giant achievement and an indication that the corporate managed to ramp up manufacturing of the proprietary cell considerably to achieve a median manufacturing price of 495,000 cells per day. That’s sufficient for 368 Cybertrucks.
Nevertheless, the most important battery maker on the planet, Modern Amperex Know-how Restricted, higher often called CATL, believes that taking place the cylindrical cell route is a lifeless finish. CATL’s founder and head honcho, Robin Zeng, advised Tesla CEO Elon Musk this to his face. The response was silence.
Zang, who spoke with Reuters, stated he had advised Tesla’s head honcho that his wager on the 4680 cylindrical battery “goes to fail and by no means achieve success.”
“We had a really huge debate, and I confirmed him,” Zeng stated. “He was silent. He does not know the right way to make a battery. It is about electrochemistry. He is good for the chips, the software program, the {hardware}, the mechanical issues.”
However that’s not all. Zang additionally had some remarks about Musk’s tendency to set unrealistic timelines for upcoming merchandise. “His downside is overpromising. I talked to him,” Zeng stated. “Possibly one thing wants 5 years. However he says two years. I positively requested him why. He advised me he wished to push folks.”
Photograph by: Tesla
Tesla 4680 cylindrical battery cell
Photograph by: CATL
CATL prismatic battery cells
Musk has been pushing the narrative that Tesla autos will have the ability to drive themselves for a few decade. This promise culminated with the reveal of the Cybercab robotaxi which is able to supposedly go on sale in 2026 with no steering wheel or pedals.
“He in all probability himself thinks it wants 5 years, however should you consider him when he says two years, you can be in huge hassle,” Zang stated for Reuters. “The path is true.”
Zeng met with Musk in Beijing in April and the 2 typically speak about varied matters, in line with Reuters. For context, CATL is a significant provider to Tesla’s Shanghai manufacturing facility which assembles the Mannequin 3 and Mannequin Y EVs for native and worldwide markets. Tesla has additionally licensed CATL expertise for its upcoming battery manufacturing facility in Nevada, which is predicted to grow to be operational subsequent yr.
Tesla’s 4680 cylindrical cell makes use of a lithium-ion chemistry with a nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathode. In the meantime, CATL makes a speciality of manufacturing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells. Lately, the Chinese language large launched a consumer-grade sodium-ion battery which is even cheaper to fabricate than LFP cells.
