(Reuters) – Tesla plans to design four new versions of its internal battery to power the Cybertruck, its future robotaxi and other electric vehicles, the Information newspaper reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of its plans.
The Elon Musk-led company currently sources most of its electric vehicle batteries from other companies, including Panasonic Energy and LG Energy, but is trying to ramp up production of its 4,680 battery cells in the United States. United to reduce costs and increase margins.
Development of the 4680 battery encountered difficulties, with the company losing 70-80% of its cathodes during production testing, compared to conventional battery manufacturers, who lose less than 2% of their components to manufacturing defects , the report says.
Cathodes, a key part of the battery, help create the energy that powers an electric vehicle.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
The company has also tried to increase production of a dry-coated version of the 4680 cells, but has struggled with the speed at which it can make the batteries, Reuters reported last year.
Tesla plans to introduce dry cathodes into Cybertruck batteries by the middle of next year, the briefing said, adding that the company expects to manufacture between 2,000 and 3,000 Cybertrucks per week using the technology. dry coating.
By 2026, Tesla plans to introduce four versions of the 4680 using the dry cathode, one of which, named NC05, will power the robotaxi, according to the report.
The electric vehicle maker is expected to unveil its long-awaited robotaxi product next week, as it seeks to focus on AI-powered autonomous technology amid slowing demand for battery-powered cars.
(Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
