Tesla will apparently not use solid-state batteries in the near future, as two of its battery cell suppliers have expressed doubts about their suitability for electric vehicles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tesla's main supplier Panasonic sees solid-state batteries as better suited for drones or hand tools than for large battery modules in electric cars. Chief technology officer Tatsuo Ogawa, speaking to researchers in Osaka, described them as a niche product that will not bring the revolution that industry giants promise.
Although solid-state batteries theoretically offer greater safety and energy densities of up to 500 Wh\/kg, which means up to twice the range in the same space as existing lithium-ion batteries, their production remains extremely expensive. Toyota plans to use these batteries only in its luxury Lexus line. CATL, another Tesla supplier, also warns that mass production is still a long way off, despite a decade of research. Initially, they predicted 2030, but now, together with Samsung and Toyota, they are targeting 2027 for the first electric cars with the said technology.
Even interim solutions, such as semi-solid batteries with a small proportion of liquid electrolyte, are too expensive for now. NIO's 150 kWh battery pack allows a range of over 965 km, but costs almost as much as a small car. That's why the company currently only rents it out for summer trips. Tesla, which is currently betting on reducing costs, is unlikely to install solid batteries in its models, at least in the near future.<\/p>\n