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Tesla-supplier Panasonic Energy prepares for high-capacity EV battery production

Japanese Tesla provider Panasonic Energy has finalised preparations for the mass-production of its high-capacity electric-vehicle batteries, the company said on Monday, as it looks for to start providing the cell to automakers.

Panasonic Energy's refurbished plant in the western prefecture of Wakayama will act as the primary factory for producing the 4680 cells, which the company states have five times the capacity of its smaller sized 2170 round batteries.

The system of Panasonic Holdings has actually sent out samples of the 4680 batteries to some car manufacturers to which it is currently a. provider, and intends to kick off production after getting the. thumbs-up from clients, a Panasonic representative stated.

It had previously stated it planned to begin production of the. 4680 cells at the Wakayama plant, where it formerly made parts. for automobile batteries, in the very first half of the existing. company year that started in April.

The larger cells, which have a size of 46mm and an 80mm. height, will enable automakers to extend the driving series of. electric lorries and use fewer cells to accomplish the exact same. battery pack capacity, Panasonic Energy said in a declaration.

Tesla began providing the Cybertruck in November 2023 after. years of delay and a difficult production ramp-up.

While the car manufacturer already produces its own 4680. batteries, among the main traffic jams it deals with for the truck is. the speed at which it can make them, sources

informed

Reuters in late 2023.

Panasonic, one of Tesla's long-standing battery. suppliers, is presently constructing its 2nd U.S. battery plant. in Kansas that is set to begin production next year, in addition. to one in Nevada.

Panasonic Energy held an event to mark the conclusion. of preparations to begin mass-producing the batteries and revealed. an evaluation line where trays stacked with the silver-coloured. cells could be seen going through.

The company plans to start battery production at a yearly. capability of a number of gigawatt hours, CEO Kazuo Tadanobu told. reporters after the event, adding the international EV market was. likely to expand over the medium to long-lasting.

The Wakayama plant is anticipated to employ roughly 400 personnel. in the development and production of the new batteries by March. 2025, and function as a website for experimenting with procedures that it could. implement at other battery factories all over the world, the. business stated.

Panasonic Energy already makes 2170 and 1860 cylindrical EV. batteries at its Suminoe and Kaizuka plants in Japan.

The battery maker and automaker Subaru, for. which the U.S. is a crucial market, stated last week they will establish. a plant in Gunma prefecture north of Tokyo for the supply of. automobile batteries from the 2028 organization year.

(source: Reuters)