Through the years, Tesla has accustomed us to being relatively silent about technical particulars associated to its batteries. Even the battery capability of explicit EV fashions is not proven on the corporate’s web site. However we discovered an fascinating exception.
Within the 2023 Affect Report on web page 109, Tesla confirmed the Cybertruck‘s battery passport with neat particulars of the 4680-type cylindrical battery cells and the structural battery pack.
4680-type cylindrical cells
The 4680-type cylindrical battery cells (with a diameter of 46 mm and top of 80 mm) are the biggest cylindrical cells utilized in EVs to this point (about 5 instances in comparison with the 2170-type). Relying on the producer, the peak would possibly differ (another sizes can be 4695 and 46120).
A few of the data straight confirms what we already know from different unofficial sources, together with teardowns, whereas some information are new. All issues deserve a small abstract, as Tesla’s in-house 4680 batteries would be the reference level for future generations of the brand new cell format. It can quickly be produced by different suppliers and utilized by different carmakers.
Let’s begin with the chemistry. Tesla makes use of a Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) lithium-ion cathode chemistry, as identified in The Limiting Issue’s teardown in mid-2022.
There are 1,344 particular person battery cells in a single Tesla Cybertruck’s battery, with a mixed whole power of 123 kilowatt-hours. This enables us to calculate that a person cell has 91.5 Wh of capability.
The corporate reveals additionally that the battery’s weight is nearly 1,600 lbs (721 kg). That is roughly 24% of the entire Cybertruck AWD model (6,603 lbs or practically 3,000 kg).
As a result of the battery is a structural ingredient of the automobile, a few of this weight is offset. Nonetheless, the battery pack is heavy. Its gravimetric power density is 0.17 kWh/kg. That is not a nasty consequence, however there appears to be room for enchancment.
Tesla Cybertruck 4680 cell battery passport data:
- lithium-ion chemistry: Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese (NCM) cathode
- cell kind issue: 4680-type cylindrical (a diameter of 46 mm and top of 80 mm)
- variety of cells per pack: 1,344 cells
- pack capability: 123 kWh
- cell capability: about 91.5 Wh
- system voltage: 800 volt (class)
- battery weight: 1,589.5 lbs (721 kg)
- power density: about 0.17 kWh/kg (170 Wh/kg)
- estimated driving vary: 340 miles (AWD model), 320 miles (Cyberbeast)
Later this 12 months, the Tesla Cybertruck AWD and Cyberbeast variations will supply a variety extender possibility. With an estimated improve in vary of about 38% (respectively 470+ and 440+ miles), the extra capability can be round 47 kWh, for a complete of about 170 kWh.
In 2025, Tesla additionally intends to launch an entry-level RWD model with a smaller battery and shorter vary of roughly 250 miles.
We’re desirous to see what occurs subsequent with the 4680-type cells. The Tesla Cybertruck’s battery cells are already about 10% extra energy-dense than the preliminary ones utilized in one of many Tesla Mannequin Y variations, particularly the Mannequin Y AWD from Texas, which was retired in 2023. As with every new cell format, there’s substantial potential for enchancment earlier than the expertise matures.
Tesla’s 4680-type cylindrical battery cell
