BMW is reportedly set to adopt the Tesla 4680 battery format with supply from EVE, a battery supplier that is also looking to supply Tesla.
In 2020, Tesla introduced the new 4680 cylindrical battery format (46mm by 80mm), which is much larger than any other cylindrical cell installed in an electric vehicle to date.
The automaker made some technological improvements that allowed for a larger cell that itself provides the structural architecture of the battery pack – a new concept that allows for a significant increase in the efficiency of electric vehicles.
Tesla has been manufacturing the 4680 cell itself, and it has already made its way into the Model Y, made at the Texas Gigafactory. But the carmaker has also encouraged other battery makers to make the cell as it plans to buy every viable cell it can get.
This proposal has attracted the attention of many major battery manufacturers with Panasonic to LGwho all invested in the new battery format.
One of them is the lesser-known battery manufacturer EVE from China.
It was reported last year Tesla has been in talks with EVE about LFP battery cells.
Interestingly, Reuters is now reporting that EVE is going to supply 4680 cells for BMW:
China’s EVE Energy Co Ltd will supply BMW with large cylindrical batteries for its electric cars in Europe, two people familiar with the matter said, as the German automaker follows Tesla Inc . adopted new technology.
BMW declined to comment on the report, but said it expects battery-related news in early September.
If EVE plans to fit the LFP chemistry into the 4680 battery format, it could allow some of the cheaper electric cars from BMW in China to be used.
The battery manufacturer planned a new large battery plant in central China to produce battery cells.
The report did not specify a planned volume for the new plant or BMW’s supply for the German automaker’s electric vehicle efforts.
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https://electrek.co/2022/08/17/bmw-reportedly-adopt-tesla-4680-battery-format/
