Tesla supplier Panasonic hopes to boost EV battery energy density by 20%

Panasonic, a primary battery supplier to Tesla, is reportedly developing technology to increase its battery density by 20% by 2030. According to Reuters, the company’s chief technology officer, Shoichiro Watanabe, disclosed the information. Watanabe explained that the enhanced battery performance would be possible through new additives, allowing each cell to run at a higher voltage.

To put this into context, increasing the battery density by one-fifth would extend the range of a Tesla Model Y by over 100 km (~62 miles) without enlarging the device. Manufacturers could instead keep a similar range but decrease the battery’s volume. It could be that the improved energy density would be around 900 Wh/l; Panasonic’s latest technology has a 750 Wh/l energy density.

It is currently unclear when Panasonic could release the new technology and if it would be exclusive to Tesla. The company plans to start mass production of its 4680 batteries next financial year. Tesla is planning to use these batteries in new Model Y cars. Samsung has also recently announced new batteries; the company revealed it was developing batteries similar to the 4680 cells it has already worked on for Tesla, but with a higher capacity.

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