Tesla Model 2 battery may charge in 15 minutes and perform better when cold

Tesla's plans to bring EV component production back to the US by using the best battery technology out there seem to be advancing with the help of the world's largest cell maker, CATL.

The company was previously rumored to provide equipment and know-how so that Tesla can expand its battery production at Giga Nevada. Ford has a similar project with CATL, but Tesla wants to be more independent when it comes to US-based manufacturing because of the federal tax credit regulations.

According to CATL's CEO, it is working with Tesla on the supply of battery cells that allow much faster charging than the current crop installed in the Model 3 RWD.

Model 2 charging speed

The affordable mass market Model 2 is tipped to be a prime candidate for CATL's new batteries with increased charge speed. CEO Zheng said that CATL can certainly help Tesla achieve its goals for a lower Model 2 production cost, which he referred to as the "$25,000 car":

There’s always room for cost reduction, depending on what the $25,000 car’s aim is. If it’s for robotaxis, we don’t have to worry about the cost reduction for each cell as our batteries have a longer life cycle and so their average cost is actually lower.

Previously, the Tesla Model 2 was rumored to come with LFP cells and a 53 kWh battery. The advantages of the iron phosphate chemistry are that it allows for much cheaper battery packs that are safer. The disadvantage is that the LFP cells have lower energy density.

This, however, is somewhat offset by the fact that they can be safely charged to full each session, plus CATL also has an M3P technology that adds manganese for up to 15% energy density boost of phosphate cells.

Besides the M3P chemistry, CATL already teased a new fast-charging LFP cell that has been developed with a much better cold weather performance in mind. This might be what Tesla will strive to use in the Model 2 and the 4C speeds mean that the battery can be fully charged in 15 minutes.

CATL cites a 10-minute charge, but it is for the typical scenario of bringing it from 20-80%. The big advantage of the new battery tech that may end up in the Model 2, however, is that even in freezing temps it can be fully charged in half an hour. As the recent cold weather snap in Chicago demonstrated, such a feature will become increasingly important.

Besides CATL's technologies, Tesla might also need its help to ramp up US-based LFP production quickly, if it wants the Model 2 to be eligible for the full $7,500 of federal tax credit for new EVs.

Get the 80A Tesla Gen 2 Wall Connector with 24' cable on Amazon