Panasonic, a key battery supplier for Tesla, has announced plans to develop a new type of higher-capacity battery in approximately two years, according to a new Reuters report.
This new battery could be the first step in a groundbreaking advance in EV battery density, which will result in lower prices for EVs or increased range. The Japanese company is developing an innovative anode-free battery design, which it claims will deliver a world-leading level of capacity by the end of 2027.
If the development is successful, the improvement is expected to lead to a 25% increase in battery capacity, according to Panasonic. For a real-world example, this would boost the driving range of a Model Y by almost 90 miles (~145km), bringing it up to 456 EPA miles for the Long Range RWD version, assuming the battery pack size remains unchanged.
The same batteries in the Model S could help it achieve 500 miles on a single charge.
Anode-Free Innovation
The core of the technological leap lies in a clever redesign of the battery cell’s internal structure. Panasonic’s proposed future design has no anode, one of the key components in a traditional battery, at least during the manufacturing stage. Instead, using novel techniques, Panasonic forms a lithium-metal anode inside the battery after it is charged for the first time.
Eliminating the anode from the initial build frees up a significant amount of physical space within the battery cell. This newly available room can then be filled with more active cathode materials, such as nickel, cobalt, and aluminum, which are the materials that actually store energy. This allows the battery to store more energy in the same physical volume, contributing to increased energy density.
More Range or Lower Cost?
This breakthrough in energy density will present manufacturers with a choice: a lighter, more cost-efficient battery pack, or a similarly weighted pack with increased range? There are arguments on both sides, so let’s take a look.
Option one is to reduce weight and cost. A smaller, lighter battery pack that offers the same range as today’s models is extremely attractive, as it helps cut costs, while also letting Tesla offer lower prices to customers. This could be the path that makes the $25k vehicle a reality.
Option two is to maximize driving range. This is the most direct application; keep the weight and size of the battery the same, and increase its energy density. This approach could result in a 90-mile range increase, while maintaining costs relatively similar to today’s pricing. An extended-range vehicle could be an excellent offering for vehicles that need to squeeze every ounce of energy to travel the furthest, like Tesla’s Long Range AWD models.
The Broader Context
Panasonic isn’t alone in this pursuit; the Reuters report notes that multiple battery producers are also working on similar anode-free technologies, likely including Tesla itself. In addition to the new design, Panasonic is also aiming to cut the costs of batteries by reducing the proportion of relatively expensive nickel inside its batteries.
While the technological promise is immense, there are some financial and engineering questions. It isn’t clear whether the new technology would result in lower manufacturing cost, or would even be scalable to the production levels a manufacturer like Tesla would need. For now, the development of groundbreaking battery tech is something to keep a close eye on. There are a lot of players in the cell development market today, and we’ll likely see more improvements in tech in the near future.
