Tesla supplier Panasonic tips mass solid-state battery and 4680 cell production schedule

Panasonic will be putting its money where its mouth is and will start mass production of solid-state batteries during its next fiscal year.

According to Shoichiro Watanabe, the CTO of Panasonic Energy, there will be a pilot solid-state battery batch manufactured first so that customers can gauge their cost and reliability in the next two years or so. Other solid-state battery makers, like Toyota, Samsung, or CATL, have also pegged 2027 as the year when solid-state cells will reach critical production mass so that they can be used in electric cars, drones, robots, or wearables commercially.

Panasonic's solid-state battery packs will first target humanoid gear like Tesla's Optimus, as the company deems the solid-state technology more suitable for robots and drones due to its high manufacturing costs. Solid-state batteries offer much higher, up to 500 Wh/kg energy density than current lithium cells with liquid electrolyte, so they can pack more punch in the same footprint.

Solid-state cells are also safer and can withstand higher temperatures, making them suitable for more hazardous environments where robots and drones may be required to operate in. "We want to breach the market by establishing the possibilities of solid-state batteries," clarified Panasonic's Chief Technical Officer.

Panasonic 4680 battery for Tesla

While Panasonic's solid-state battery pilot will be launched next year, the company will start mass production of 4680 batteries very soon, informed Watanabe.

Panasonic currently makes 2170 cells for the Model Y and other Tesla vehicles in the US, and Elon Musk has been leaning on its leadership to speed up 4680 battery development and augment Tesla's production capacity over at Giga Texas.

Tesla had nearly given up on 4680 cell production, since its manufacturing costs weren't on par with those of its suppliers Panasonic or LG. It then announced a dry cathode production method breakthrough and not only stayed in the game, but now wants to expand 4680 battery production for current and future vehicles, apparently with a little help from Panasonic.

The current 4680 battery packs that Tesla makes and uses in the Cybertruck offer a rather slow charging curve, so it will be interesting to see if Panasonic will manage to craft better 4680 cells than Tesla in that regard.

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