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Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

By Larry Dignan | January 7, 2010, 7:00 AM PST

Tesla and Panasonic are collaborating in a move to create batteries optimized for use in electric vehicles.

In the deal, Tesla will use Panasonic’s battery cells in its latest battery packs. The cells feature Nickel-based Lithium ion chemistry and provide the highest energy density today, according to the companies.

Panasonic is also currently in the middle of a 3-year $1 billion investment in lithium-ion battery cell research and development. Panasonic will open a new facility in Suminoe, Japan in April.

The Holy Grail here is to develop a cell optimized for electric vehicles and bring down costs. Tesla has delivered more than 900 cars so far, but has much larger ambitions.

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About Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is the editor-in-chief of SmartPlanet.

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Re: "I can only say that the myth that electric cars will
reduce CO2 is just that A Myth."

Actually, you have it exactly backwards. it is clear that you have
not researched your opinion.

From Tesla Motors' web site:

"Don't electric vehicles actually just move pollution to
another location?..."

"No ... Power generation plants, even coal burning ones, are
inherently more efficient and less polluting than vehicles due to
economies of scale and the ability to more efficiently remove
pollutants from a smaller number of much larger fixed
locations."
http://www.teslamotors.com/learn_more/faqs.php?flat=1

And it actually gets even better than that. For more detailed
info see:

Environmental Benefits:
http://www.teslamotors.com/learn_more/environmental_benefit
s.php

Well-To-Wheel Efficiency:
http://www.teslamotors.com/performance/well_to_wheel.php

-Glen

Posted by glen@...

19th Jan 2010

Just
In

RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

To add to what Glen said, one coal burning plant not only emits far
less CO2 then thousands of internal combustion engines but electric
cars also give you the option of generating the electricity from other
sources. You can recharge your car batteries off of solar or wind
power for example.

Posted by randoran

29th Jun 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Seems odd for Tesla to take 400mm in gov money and purchase largest component from foreign supplier.

Posted by LostValley@...

7th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

In the process of starting a business that will reduce the cost of any business expense, development of product, and sell at a drastically reduced cost to the buyer.

Athenapro.com(still in development)

For questions and support contact through my private email.

Thomas Adair
thomasadair@live.com

Posted by riskfreeinvesting

8th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

If more widespread use of electric cars would help reduce our society's total output of carbon dioxide, and if CO2 truly is a problem, does it matter whether a first-rate battery comes from a domestic or a foreign source?

Posted by AlexKovnat

12th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Hopefully they'll come up with some solution to the current bottleneck
of maximum current input which stymies the effectiveness of
regenerative braking while they're at it.

Posted by steve_jonesuk@...

13th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Store the energy from regenerative braking in small ultracapacitor array's next to/inside the wheel wells, close to the braking assemblies to increase the overall regenerative braking effectiveness, thus reducing the need for foriegn suppliers. Just a suggestion.

Posted by bmeyers@...

19th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

There must be some mistake in the article. Lithium Nickle is obsolete battery chemistry for automotive use. Next gen would be something like LiPo chemistry.

Posted by kirk@...

19th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

In response to Alex Kovnat above; I can only say that the myth that electric cars will reduce CO2 is just that A Myth. They are good for reducing the use of oil but they increase the use of coal. They are ELECTRIC cars and so need recharging don't they? Well, where do you think the electricity comes from? Usually coal fired power stations. So NO they do not reduce CO2 at all. How about using Solar Cells - well you need a lot to produce the power needed by a car and you may be charging over night when there is no sun! What about Nuclear - well most of the world is still out on that and new ones are decades away even if agreed to now.

End result?? Electric cars DO NOT reduce pollution, they simply shift it from the exhaust pipe to the power station. They might reduce reliance on Oil but Increase reliance on Coal. Pity but that's the reality for now.

Posted by bsit@...

19th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Posted by glen@...

19th Jan 2010

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RE: Tesla, Panasonic eye next-gen electric vehicle batteries

Posted by randoran

29th Jun 2010

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