Cheyunji learned on August 26 that Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on social media that the American electric car manufacturer may start mass production in the next three to four years. A new battery with a 50% increase in energy density and high cycle life can even be used in electric aircraft.
Researchers said that the energy density of the Panasonic "2170" battery used in Tesla Model 3 is about 260Wh/kg, and the new battery will jump 50% from the current energy density to 400Wh/kg. kg. Tesla said that increasing battery energy density is crucial for Tesla to achieve longer cruising range at this stage.
Musk stated last year that for electric aircraft to operate normally, the energy density of batteries needs to be increased to more than 400Wh/kg. At that time, he estimated that it would take at least five years.
In addition, Tesla’s “Battery Day” has been finalized as September 22, which will be held on the same day as the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. It is reported that this "Battery Day" will focus on improving energy density and reducing costs. Tesla is likely to reveal more details on improving battery performance and announce the company's latest battery technology and related information at this event.
Tesla stated that due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, only "very limited" shareholders were able to participate in this event. Tesla will select participants for this event through a “drawing of lots”. It is reported that the event will be held online. In addition, the background image displayed on the official registration page triggered discussion and speculation among the media and fans about the highlights of this event.
Some foreign media isolated the pictures and text on the event page, processed and retrieved the complete background image, and found that the structure in the image may be a material called silicon nanowires. Park Chul-wan, former director of the Advanced Battery Center of the Korea Electronics Technology Research Institute, also said that the image is likely to hint at "silicon nanowire anode" technology, which is a breakthrough technology that can potentially and significantly increase battery energy. Density and service life. Although the material has not yet been used in commercial production, it has proven its efficacy in making high-energy-density, long-life batteries.
Cheyunji learned that the current patented technology for silicon nanowire battery anode materials is mastered by an American company called Amprius. Ampreis said that the capacity of silicon is usually 10 times that of graphite, but it is likely to break due to expansion during charging. If silicon nanowires are used, it can effectively prevent silicon from breaking when it expands.
According to foreign media reports, Ampreis recently moved its headquarters just a few hundred feet away from Tesla’s California battery factory, and the company’s head of engineering and manufacturing recently joined In addition to Tesla, Musk has also mentioned that silicon nanowire battery technology will be used in the next generation of batteries. This seems to be more than a coincidence.
As the absolute leader in the electric era, Tesla continues to focus on real innovation. The "million-mile battery" has focused the attention of most people, and its related technologies will most likely be unveiled on "Battery Day" get interpreted. In April 2019, Musk planned to put a million-mile battery into production in 2020; in September of the same year, Jeff's team published a paper to disclose the test results of the million-mile battery; in May 2020, Tesla cooperated with CATL, which is expected to be launched first Million-mile battery launched in Chinese market.
Tesla’s new generation lithium-ion battery based on Maxwell (Maxwell Technology Company) dry electrode technology will also be the highlight of the day. Maxwell's dry electrode technology can increase the energy density of batteries by 20% to 30%. The company said that through dry electrode technology, the energy density of the battery core can exceed 300Wh/kg and eventually reach 500Wh/kg.
In the early days, Tesla took the lead in using ternary lithium batteries. While relying on battery pack management technology to overcome the low safety of ternary lithium batteries, it also used its higher energy density to further improve its cruising range. In addition, Excellent autonomous driving assistance technology and vehicle OTA capabilities have also become a trump card for attracting consumers.
After experiencing the cold winter in the auto market, bold and precise product concepts, accurate capture of user needs and product positioning have become the primary considerations for many companies.
By creating environmentally friendly, high-tech, high-end electric vehicles, Tesla has not only created a unique and firm brand image, but also distinguished itself from traditional established car manufacturers as a pure electric vehicle. It has used product differentiation to lay the foundation for stable development and continues to Stimulate the incremental market in the pure electric field.
This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.