Tesla’s prime battery cell provider, CATL, is throwing some chilly water on Tesla’s battery plans and the CEO even mentioned that Elon Musk “doesn’t know the way to make battery cells.”
Modern Amperex Know-how Co., Restricted (CATL) had an unbelievable rise and have become the world’s largest producer of battery cells for electrical autos in the previous few years – and by a big margin.
It even provides Tesla with many battery cells for its EV manufacturing at Gigafactory Shanghai.
CATL’s success has made Robin Zeng, its founder and chairman, one of many foremost authorities on battery cell manufacturing, which makes his new feedback on Tesla’s battery cell manufacturing effort attention-grabbing.
Tesla buys most of its batttery cells from suppliers, inlcuding CATL and Panasonic, however it has additionally launched its personal effort to supply its personal cylindical 4680 battery cells, that are at the moment solely used within the Cybertruck.
The corporate has had points ramping up manufacturing of its personal battery cells, however it reported making progress these days – going so far as claiming that its personal cell will obtain higher price than anybody within the business by the tip of the yr.
However CATL shouldn’t be impressed.
Zeng spoke to Reuters not too long ago and reported that he had a dialogue with Musk earlier this yr when he visited China. The CATL founder warned Musk that he thinks Tesla’s 4680 effort will fail:
Zeng mentioned he had advised Musk immediately that his guess on a cylindrical battery, often known as the 4680, “goes to fail and by no means achieve success.”
The CATL founder, who has a PhD in physics, was additionally unimpressed with Musk’s electrochemistry data when debating Tesla’s 4680 batteyr cell effort:
“We had a really large debate, and I confirmed him,” Zeng mentioned. “He was silent. He doesn’t know the way to make a battery. It’s about electrochemistry. He’s good for the chips, the software program, the {hardware}, the mechanical issues.”
On this interview, Zeng was very candid about his chat with Musk. He even touched on Musk’s notirous points with timelines.
He commented:
“His downside is overpromising. I talked to him,” Zeng mentioned. “Perhaps one thing wants 5 years. However he says two years. I positively requested him why. He advised me he wished to push folks.”
This has been the excuse that many Musk followers have been utilizing to justify his missed timelines: he’s making an attempt to encourage his troups.
Electrek’s Take
I’m stunned that the top of a provider would discuss in regards to the CEO of one among his foremost prospects like that.
Clearly, he’s biased since Tesla’s battery effort might reduce into his enterprise, however on the similar time, Tesla has at all times made it clear that they’d at all times must hold shopping for from battery suppliers.
I believe what’s most attention-grabbing right here is that CATL’s experience is in LFP cells and we all know that Tesla is seeking to make its personal LFP cells at one level. That may be what Zeng is speaking about right here.
With that mentioned, Tesla did declare that it’s on the verge of carrying out its price goal with the 4680 cell. It may be true, however I’ve points believing among the issues Tesla claims today.
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