Tesla ‘Battery Day’ to Start at 1:30 P.M. PT

Tesla will present today new details into its homegrown battery efforts at a “Battery Day” event for shareholders.

Chief Executive Elon Musk offered a few hints at what to expect. In a series of tweets on Monday, Musk said the company will present developments that will have more long-term impact than short-term. Musk said the battery tech to be discussed will not reach high-volume production until 2022, but it will have a place in upcoming models like the Cybertruck, Semi, and the next-generation Roadster.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1308148212876812289

Musk also noted that Tesla’s battery efforts will only help supplement the cells it’s purchasing from other manufacturers like Panasonic and LG.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1308284091142266881

“We intend to increase, not reduce battery cell purchases from Panasonic, LG & CATL (possibly other partners too).” Musk tweeted. However, even with our cell suppliers going at maximum speed, we still foresee significant shortages in 2022 & beyond unless we also take action ourselves.”

The CEO also emphasized the difficulty journey ahead for the company in ramping its own battery cell production to scale.

“The extreme difficulty of scaling production of new technology is not well understood,” Musk said in a tweet. “It’s 1000% to 10,000% harder than making a few prototypes. The machine that makes the machine is vastly harder than the machine itself.”

Tesla watchers have speculated that Tesla will show off a battery cell manufacturing process that will offer more efficiency at a lower cost. The company has reportedly been conducting research and development at a facility near its Fremont, Calif. factory.

Battery Day will be mostly a virtual event, except for a few people in attendance.

The Battery Day livestream is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. PT. 

 

[zecar]

I wonder what structural batteries means for a battery replacement if needed?

Batteries will have to be removable for recycling. Perhaps replacement for defects will be by module. Musk implied no subdivision of cells within the pack, but I'm surethe real pack will not be so simple.

 

[zecar]

Anyone have insights into C rate and energy density of the new cells? I was quite confused. C rate would seem to be much higher. But was Musk claiming higher energy density of just lower cost?

I found Musk extolling other manufacturers to get involved to be quite weird. Reveling a highly proprietary process and then saying everyone should also do it. Then he reverted to the "we make our patents publicly available b.s.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I found Musk extolling other manufacturers to get involved to be quite weird. Reveling a highly proprietary process and then saying everyone should also do it

Makes total sense. He said they'll be battery constrained unless they do something about it. So they came up with an entirely new battery and manufacturing technology. The more manufacturers that produces these cells, the more cars, cybertrucks, powerwalls, and powerpacks Tesla can sell, which is ultimately good for Tesla in the long run. Remember Musk isn't trying to make Tesla super profitable or proprietary -- he's on a mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. And this is a step in that direction.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1308149191684710400?s=20

Then he reverted to the "we make our patents publicly available b.s.

Why is it "b.s."?

 

[zecar]

Why is it "b.s."?

Because Tesla's primary asset is their IP which they are certainly not giving away.

Auto manufacturers agreed a long time ago not to sue each other over small patent infringements. They essentially share less important patents. Musk opening Tesla less important IP is a defensive mood to "join the club" and not face litigation.

Not to say that Musk isn't sincere about encouraging EV adaption, just that his patent sharing this isn't a saintly move. It's the correct way to play it.

Apparently it's really hard to build a car without technically violating other people IP.

 

[LionXng]

I have always understood it to mean the patents are publicly available... to be licensed$$$.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I have always understood it to mean the patents are publicly available... to be licensed$$$.

Nope. Free. As long as they're used in "good faith"

Privacy & Legal | Tesla

Because Tesla's primary asset is their IP which they are certainly not giving away.

Whole heartedly disagree. By definition, patents are IP. Just look at their long list of global, EV specific patents they have open sourced. These are not "small patent infringement" type patents:

Privacy & Legal | Tesla

But sure, some other car maker would have to write (or license) their own AP software. AP is not Tesla's primary asset.

 

[EuGenius77]

The battery design is just a piece in the puzzle - 54% total range increase estimate