4680 lithium battery leads technological innovation, which aspects will it
affect the lithium battery industry?
In the first quarter of 2022, the Model Y loaded with 4680 batteries will
be delivered. It is expected that by the end of 2022, Tesla's 4680 battery
production capacity will reach 100GWh per year, enough to meet the needs of 1.3
million electric vehicles. It is expected that after 2023, battery manufacturers
such as CATL, Panasonic, EVE Lithium Energy, and LG will make breakthroughs in
4680 battery technology. As a high-energy density battery, the 4680 cylindrical
battery will not only promote the innovation of the lithium battery industry,
but also change the needs of all links in the industry chain.
(4680 lithium battery used in Tesla Model Y)
SES Power has nearly 20 years of experience in the lithium battery
industry. At the same time, there are many products in the energy storage power
station, energy storage system, energy storage lithium battery, inverter,
photovoltaic power generation and other industries. We are in many customized
lithium ion batteries. Using cylindrical batteries, from the initial 14500
specification (AA model), to the most common 18650, 26650, to the 32650 often
used in energy storage products, SES Power has used them. But we are full of
curiosity and expectation for 4680, because it will subvert the market of
prismatic aluminum shell lithium battery, because prismatic aluminum shell
lithium battery is considered to be the first choice for electric vehicles and
large-scale energy storage.
According to data released by Tesla, the new 4680 battery (46mm diameter,
80mm length) has achieved a number of technical indicators improvement: the
cruising range has increased by 16%, the charging and discharging power is 6
times that of the 2170 battery, and the energy is 5 times that of the 21700
battery, while the cost can drop by 14%.
It is expected that in 2025, the sales of Tesla's models equipped with 4680
batteries will exceed 1.6 million, with a penetration rate of nearly 50% in
Tesla's total sales, and the installed capacity is expected to reach 123GWh. As
yields increase and costs decrease in the future, 4680 batteries may be used on
Model S and Model X.
Based on the interest in the 4680 battery, SES Power has studied which
aspects of the lithium battery industry will be affected by the new technical
requirements of this product. The final conclusion is that it will mainly affect
the following seven aspects:
1) Battery:
Panasonic will trial production of 4680 batteries in April 2022, and Tesla
will be installed in 2022; EVE Lithium Energy announced in November to expand
the 20GWh large cylindrical battery project for passenger cars; StoreDot
announced successful production in September 2021, the first 4680 cylindrical
battery is released, which can be fully charged in just 10 minutes. The company
also cooperates with EVE Lithium Energy. In addition, LG, Samsung SDI, CATL, and
BAK Battery have all deeply deployed 4680 batteries.
2) High nickel positive electrode:
4680 is more compatible with high-nickel ternary cathodes and silicon-based
anodes with higher energy density. High nickel has high energy density: the
energy density of NCM811 battery module is above 200Wh/kg, while that of NCM333,
NCM523 and NCM622 is between 150-180Wh/kg.
3) Silicon-based negative electrode:
The addition of this material in the 21700 cells used in Model 3 is 5%, and
the addition of 4680 cells is expected to be 10%.
4) Carbon nanotubes:
The silicon-based negative electrode itself has poor electrical
conductivity, so it is necessary to increase the use of single-walled carbon
nanotubes.
5) LiFSI:
The new lithium salt LiFSI has better thermal stability, electrochemical
stability, and higher electrical conductivity.
6) Structural parts:
Structural parts manufacturers are also actively deploying 4680 battery
cases and covers. Since the size of the 4680 battery case is similar to the
shape of the 330ml can, the can production equipment is also more convenient to
develop an automatic production line for the battery case.
7) Equipment:
Existing equipment manufacturers have introduced winding machines suitable
for all-tab cylindrical batteries, customized welding equipment for 4680
batteries, and high-speed laser filming machines.
SES Power's 12V100Ah, 12V200Ah, 24V100Ah, 24V200Ah, 36V100Ah, 48V50Ah,
48V100Ah and other conventional products, except for customized low-temperature
lithium batteries that can be used in -60 degrees environment and -40 degrees
Celsius, generally use prismatic aluminum shells Lithium iron phosphate
batteries, but we are also studying whether 4680 can be used in these products.
After all, the combination
