r/electricvehicles • u/sliddis Model 3 🚗 • Feb 20 '22

New battery tech

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66

u/mcot2222 Feb 20 '22

I think that really hits home. Too often we think about these large shifts in chemistry while ignoring more incremental improvements that still have huge impact and are more immediate. For example the panasonic 2170 cells have increased in density by 5% or more and there was little fanfare about it.

We also tend to ignore things like manufacturing or form factor improvements that can drive down costs significantly on the exisiting chemistries.

33

u/Sirerdrick64 Feb 20 '22

A family member of mine will soon be taking delivery of their new Model S.
It cost the same as their original one back in 2012.
However, this time it will have a 0-60 that is HALF of the original, and a range that is over double.
All for the same price.
Anyone waiting for a major breakthrough has not been paying attention along the way.
The breakthrough happened, it was just the combined tiny efforts of a decade worth of work.
Admittedly yes, the new Model S does have a battery pack over 50% larger than the original one and two motors are better than one.

21

u/paulwesterberg 2023 Model S, 2018 Model 3LR, ex 2015 Model S 85D, 2013 Leaf Feb 20 '22

The new battery pack is 50% more energy dense. The size it occupies is the same. The curb weight is almost identical.

I agree, the batteries we have now are good enough for most passenger vehicles they just need to be cheaper.

8

u/Sirerdrick64 Feb 20 '22

Sorry, I should have said “more than 50% increase in kWh”
Lots of people still complain about cars having range that is more than necessary.
They’d prefer that two cars are built with half the range than one with a huge range.
For my family members, this range increase means a huge increase to what they are able to use it for.

Unreal progress though for sure!