Panasonic to Begin Manufacturing 4680-Format Lithium-Ion Battery Cells
Panasonic has completed preparations to commence manufacturing 4680-format lithium-ion battery cells at a factory in Japan, as reported by Reuters on Monday.
The company is in the process of sending sample cells produced at the Japanese factory in Wakayama prefecture to automaker customers for approval. Production is set to begin once approval is granted.
Panasonic is a key supplier of batteries to Tesla, a major proponent of 4680 cells. These larger cells, measuring 46mm in diameter and 80mm in height, are seen as crucial for enabling more affordable electric vehicles and powering energy-intensive applications like the Tesla Semi and Cybertruck. Tesla has also started producing its own 4680 cells, although it has faced challenges in scaling up production volume.
Despite initial concerns about potential difficulties with the new cell format, Panasonic is moving forward with production. The company had previously indicated that mass production of Tesla 4680 cells would require new techniques and could face overheating issues. However, production is only slightly delayed from the target timeline announced in 2022, with mass production expected to begin by March 2024.
While other battery suppliers have shown interest in large-format cells, Panasonic and Tesla have been at the forefront in scaling up production. CATL, for example, has pursued a different approach with its cell-to-pack technology, which eliminates the modules used in traditional battery-pack designs. Despite claims of delivering more power than Tesla’s 4680 cells, the adoption of cell-to-pack has also faced challenges in ramping up production.