Panasonic's new battery to boost your EV's range by 500%
Panasonic Energy has some exciting news. They're gearing up to mass-produce a new high-performance battery, called the 4680 cell. This innovative battery is set to seriously boost the energy density and efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs). Thanks to Panasonic's three-decade-long expertise in cylindrical lithium-ion battery tech, they've come up with this game-changing battery that can boost your vehicle's range by 500%.
5x more energy capacity than conventional cells
The 4680 battery is a big step up from the old-school 2170 cells. It's got a whopping five times more energy capacity than the previous version. This boost in capacity means we need fewer cells to fill the same battery pack size, making the whole assembly process more efficient and possibly bringing down EV costs. But, as Panasonic points out, making these larger-capacity cells calls for some serious tech know-how and expertise.
Panasonic's Wakayama factory to lead cell production
Panasonic's Wakayama facility in western Japan is gearing up to be the go-to spot for churning out those high-performance 4680 cells. The company's got a plan to use this factory as a testing ground for new products and methods, and once they nail it, they'll roll it out globally. By March 2025, they're expecting to have around 400 staff members working on next-gen batteries at this place.
A game-changer for the EV industry?
Kazuo Tadanobu, President and Executive Officer of Panasonic Energy, is super excited about the mass production of this nifty 4680 cell. He thinks this milestone will shake things up in both the battery and EV worlds. By adding the 4680 cell to their lineup, the company is looking to cater to a broader range of needs and encourage more people to jump on the EV bandwagon.
