[asymptonic]

Tesla back to LiFP for it's cheapest models apparently?

Tesla Model 3, Model Y Got New Battery Chemistry, and Here's What It Means

Tesla quietly offered a new, cheaper battery chemistry; here’s why it’s important.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[john61ct]

Old news, Tesla has been expanding its use of LFP for a long time now, huge deal with CATL was well over a year ago.

 

[gregski]

ah yes, the old adage: How can we build it cheaper?

 

[john61ct]

Cheaper is good.

But here the issue is eliminating a bottleneck in global rate of production.

LFP's only disadvantage is energy density, extra weight.

All things being equal its lifespan is 10x more cycles, and to me that more than makes up for that tiny performance hit.

And then you have the near elimination of fire risk, certainly not a trivial advantage.

 

[remy_martian]

The $25k Tesla hatchback should change things up a fair bit on the DIY side - as long as they stick to modules vs their "structural battery" nonsense. And, of course, they sell it in North America vs keeping it in China.

The Biden Administration is onto Musk's plan to move to being a China-centric company, which has all the fanboys in a tizzy over the upcoming EV federal tax credits.

 

[brian_]

The $25k Tesla hatchback should change things up a fair bit on the DIY side - as long as they stick to modules vs their "structural battery" nonsense.

Even if it is not a "structural battery", minimization of cost without regard for serviceability may lead to the pack not being split into modules ("cell to pack" is the buzzword for that), making the pack difficult to use in another vehicle.

Prismatic cells - even the very long prismatic cells of BYD's "blade battery" - may work out to be usable in DIY projects, as long as they use threaded fasteners rather than welded electrical connections. BYD likes LFP and has been rumoured to be a possible supplier to Tesla.

And Tesla's $25K car will never really be sold for $25K USD, just as the Model 3 was never $35K, but that doesn't matter to this battery question... the lower fantasy target price just means that the battery must be cheaper.

 

[cricketo]

just as the Model 3 was never $35K

What was it then ?

 

[remy_martian]

$39k. They pulled the rug out on the 35 car really fast.

Even the $39k was using Tesla math with gas saved, maintenance costs, etc. The car out the door was upper $40's while you couod get a Bolt EV Premier our the door for $28k last year.

Tesla's not going to have a choice at $25k, though. They'll no longer be the only game in town at the juncture when batteries are no longer in short supply.

 

[cricketo]

$39k. They pulled the rug out on the 35 car really fast.

But it was available at $35k for some time, correct ?

 

[remy_martian]

A couple or three days, lol.

Not sure how long exactly, but it was short, and the $1 gallon of milk to get you in the store and then they'd have you walking out with a fifth of Jack Daniels.

 

[brian_]

But it was available at $35k for some time, correct ?

A couple or three days, lol.

Not sure how long exactly, but it was short, and the $1 gallon of milk to get you in the store and then they'd have you walking out with a fifth of Jack Daniels.

And for that short-term special you got a software-hobbled version of the standard car (less battery capacity allowed) so that no one would want it, and it wasn't available from their website. So, no, it was never really available... Tesla just ran a publicity stunt to make it look like they met their $35K promise.

 

[remy_martian]

It's not inflation - it's supply/demand profiteering

 

[remy_martian]

MBA opportunists. Your Denny's meal is 20-30% more now. Waitresses still make the same money, the lease/taxes on the building haven't changed.

 

[remy_martian]

Tips are not in the P&L