I'm presuming a RWD Model Y with LFP 4680 batteries will have an acceptable range of 260+ EPA miles, and that might be the most important consumer benefit to the deployment of 4680 battery format.
I haven't seen that comment, but it doesn't surprise me they'd initially focus on just one battery chemistry to get the 4680 battery into production.
LFP is less energy dense so why use it in a battery format that is being designed to reduce weight/size per comparable physical size? To be clear, NCM 4680 is not more energy dense than NCM 2170. The packaging/format means less non-power producing material in an entire pack.
Yes LFP is less energy dense than L-Ion, but a lot cheaper.
Honestly, they could even do it on the LR, just a lesser trim that isn't all that fast. Keep the Lion for the Performance models and high-end trim LR.
Oh, I'm talking hypothetical. As in a future lfp lr with a 0-60 of say 5.5-6 seconds and a lion lr with a 0-60 of 4.2-4.5... then a MYP of say 3.2-3.3.
Oh no doubt, I don't think its something they'll do anytime soon regardless. I was however under the impression that LFP LR was feasible, just that it would make for an overly heavy vehicle.
1m sounds like an impressive number until you read further down the article with a clickbaity title to find out that translates to a 1000 Ys.
True, but it didn't say if these were the collective total developed over the past year, or just a batch to be sent, following past batches. I see nothing that states 'this is the total number of cells Tesla has for MY production'. Still, you are right, 1000 isn't that many vehicles....
The LFP batteries are too bulky to provide LR range in a Model 3 or Y. Just don't fit.
I just watched this very technical video that goes into great detail about the technical challenges and possibilities of a 4680 LFP cell. It is not impossible to achieve a decent range, but it will require some development to get there, mostly silicon in the cathode.
So, Tesla should spend millions developing LFP 4680 so they can get less range? They already have LFP that works and gives less range. And being prismatic, they are already way larger than 4680 so have even more benefits than a 4680 would have.
