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Tesla Sticking With Laptop Battery Cells For Now

 
2,812 views Jul 7, 2009

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S

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Large format battery cells will slowly gain a foothold on the automotive EV market in the coming years.  Companies such as LG Chem, A123 Systems, and EnerDel have been hard at work developing the large format automotive specific batteries, but Tesla still insists that the laptop format, as used in their Roadster, is the best thing going right now.

According to Tesla, the laptop battery offers proven performance at an affordable price.  With mass production of this type of battery ongoing for several decades now, the technology has advanced beyond that of current large format batteries.  As Tesla has indicated, the mass economies that surround laptop batteries have increased competition, driven technological advances, and reduced prices making them perfectly suitable for cars.

The decision to stick with the laptop format for the upcoming Model S has met some disapproval.  According to large battery format supporters and producers, this type of battery offers the distinct advantage of longevity and durability in the automotive applications.  The laptop format has not seen extensive testing inside an automobile.  This format also suffers from a very limited number of discharge and recharge cycles compared to the large format style.

However, Tesla has their reasons for sticking it out.  Currently, the laptop format has better energy density then the newly developed large format batteries.  The increased energy density leads to higher range and more output from a comparatively sized battery pack. 

Several other automakers such as Chevy and Nissan and Mitsubishi have put their bets on the large format battery with their EVs, but Tesla has decided to take a proven path.  At some point, the energy density of the large format battery is expected to surpass the laptop format, then Tesla may decide to make the change, but until then laptop format it is.

Source:  Green Fuels Forecast





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Comments (6)

  1. By EVO Posted: 7/7/2009 1:18pm PDT

    The logical fallacy in this article is suppression of alternatives. Or maybe you mean something different by the term laptop than many might think. Please be more specific in the future. There are hundreds of different chemistry/cathode/size format cells, not just two.
    Of course, the mini E uses neither laptop 18650 nor large format.
     
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  2. By blakem Posted: 7/7/2009 2:00pm PDT

    One of Tesla's main reasons for using the 18650 cells is that the smaller cells have more surface area per cell. This is a huge advantage since it allows the cell temperature to be more easily controlled. A lot of Tesla's IP has to do with their thermal management of their battery packs.
     
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  3. By Scott Posted: 7/7/2009 2:16pm PDT

    Tesla is reluctant to spend money on a different format and process that will not yield better performance. They have apparently looked into EEStor ultracaps and are likely waiting to see what ZENN reports when they get their units this Fall.
     
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  4. By CAJUN Posted: 7/7/2009 7:09pm PDT

    EEstor is very close to what is known as a vaporware company. They have promised delivery of an electrical storage unit for years. ZENN recently invested $5 million and are waiting for a prototype this year. If this doesn't happen then ZENN is history. Tesla has no use for such nonsense.
     
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  5. By  Hoops McCann Posted: 7/8/2009 5:50am PDT

    It is precisely what Cajun said that leads me to believe that there is something to Eestor. Because of their non-disclosure agreement with Eestor, Zenn can't tell us what they know. But they can invest on what they know. So I regard their very big stake increase in Eestor as a positive sign that Eestor is actually going to deliver something. We'll see. Visit the link I provided here to learn more than you care to about Eestor. It's not my site, I just visit there.
     
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  6. By  Silqworm Posted: 7/8/2009 1:20pm PDT

    I've read the eestor patent and it makes sense to me.
    Stan Lippmann Ph.D.
     
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