Tesla Motors CTO talks future batteries and charging protocols

[GSP]

Good discussion with JB Straubel:

http://ev.sae.org/article/11923

GSP

 

[AnOutsider]

Good read, thanks for that. I like how he doesn't just say "I'd make them all use tesla connectors" when asked about being the world car czar.

 

[Discoducky]

Fantastic, thanks for the link!

 

[Zzzz...]

Great find! Thanks for posting!

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Beyond the battery/charger talk, liked what I read about the Tesla-Toyota-Daimler triumvirate working together. Very nice!

To me, JB is the relatively unsung hero at Tesla. The unassuming and brilliant engineering type. Great guy!

 

[Park2670]

Great article. Glad to see they will be continually looking to the future.

 

[Bipo]

Great finding! I cannot wait to see the European socket and plug!!

 

[Iz]

Very informative on why Tesla uses 18650s.

 

[Soflason]

Cool to see JB getting out into the press more with this piece and NY Times piece just recently.

 

[lolachampcar]

Two new articles...... Looks like JB is finding the spot light.

 

[Robert.Boston]

This bit was particularly interesting to me:

What about the communication protocol of the Combo Connector? It’s considered essential for V2G.
That’s fine. We’re definitely commonizing with all of that. The only thing that’s up for debate in all of these standards is the physical geometries of the pins and sockets. Everything else is pretty easy to adapt to. The communication standards are pretty universal. We’re 100% compliant with all the J1772 communication levels, signaling, voltage, everything.

 

[RDoc]

With the SAE combo signalling being compatible with Tesla's I keep hoping they'll just start delivering adapters for the combo plug rather than the current J1772 AC only plug. It sounds like there wouldn't be any significant cost or usability difference and it might make a few more quick charging locations available as charging stations add the SAE plug to the existing Chademo connections.

 

[tdelta1000]

Good read, thanks for that. I like how he doesn't just say "I'd make them all use tesla connectors" when asked about being the world car czar.

Yeah then TM could charge non TM vehicles a usage fee to help build out the Supercharge Network or maybe the development of other Tm products.

 

[CyberDutchie]

I liked the part in the video where JB talked about the 40% leap over 4-5 years in battery tech and energy storage density from the Tesla Roadster to the Model S. And that Tesla is looking to take the same leap as they go from Model S to Gen III. He also said that they could have offered a larger size battery in the Model S but that current size and range was deliberately chosen as the most optimal.

That leads me to believe that for Gen III we probably won't see an increase in range--instead we'll get the same range achieved with a 40% smaller/lighter/cheaper battery pack.

 

[Doug_G]

That leads me to believe that for Gen III we probably won't see an increase in range--instead we'll get the same range achieved with a 40% smaller/lighter/cheaper battery pack.

That's exactly what we need/want for mass adoption. I think Tesla has it right - 200 mile range is the threshold for widespread adoption. All they need to do is get the price down and Tesla sales will explode.

 

[ohh]

(snip)
He also said that they could have offered a larger size battery in the Model S but that current size and range was deliberately chosen as the most optimal.
(snip)

Could we hope for a bigger battery for the X?

 

[Zzzz...]

Could we hope for a bigger battery for the X?

I closely follow battery industry... Start of production of an X is the end of 2014. There is a good chance of getting something like 120kWh pack that would weight as today's 85kWh one. With silicon based anode - lots of companies are trying to commercialize this technology atm. So chance of Tesla offering such option is there. On the other hand, lithium–sulfur batteries or metal air(zinc air entering commercialization) or sodium ion probably wont be ready even in two years from now.

 

[JRP3]

Panasonic already has 3.4Ah cells Tesla could use instead of the 3.1's for a capacity boost.

 

[aronth5]

I closely follow battery industry... Start of production of an X is the end of 2014. There is a good chance of getting something like 120kWh pack that would weight as today's 85kWh one. With silicon based anode - lots of companies are trying to commercialize this technology atm. So chance of Tesla offering such option is there. On the other hand, lithium–sulfur batteries or metal air(zinc air entering commercialization) or sodium ion probably wont be ready even in two years from now.

Doubtful. If you listen to JB @28:35 http://cleantechsummit.com/resources-2/ it is fairly clear the question and his answer is definitely referring to the new platform not an upgrade to the MS or MX. Best chance for an improvement in the short term is the Panasonic NCR18650B 3.4Ah cells JRP3 referred too.

 

[Zzzz...]

Panasonic already has 3.4Ah cells Tesla could use instead of the 3.1's for a capacity boost.

We do not know, Tesla might already using it :wink: QUOTE: In March of 2012, Panasonic begins the production run of a brazillion of their new NNP 3.4Ah cell.
And it is actually became available before Model S launch.

What we know is this, quote from the link in first post of this topic:

At this point we really have heavily customized that cell. We’ve totally custom-engineered that cell working jointly with Panasonic to create. It’s an automotive cell, tested to automotive standards. It doesn’t go into laptops anywhere.

- - - Updated - - -

Best chance for an improvement in the short term is the Panasonic NCR18650B 3.4Ah cells JRP3 referred too.

Read quotes above. Including "It doesn’t go into laptops anywhere" part.