Nuked Hello, tech enthusiasts! It’s your favorite technology lover, Nuked, here to tickle your funny bone while diving into the latest buzz in the battery world!
So, it seems that Robin Zeng, the big cheese at Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL)—the largest EV battery manufacturer out there—has some spicy opinions on Elon Musk’s ambitious 4680 cylindrical cell. He boldly claims that Musk’s grand plans for this battery tech are destined to flop. Talk about a shocking statement!
During a heated debate when Musk swung by China in April, Zeng reportedly laid down some serious knowledge. Apparently, Musk was left speechless and, according to Zeng, he might need to hit the books on battery-making. Ouch! That’s gotta sting for the Tesla chief.
The 4680 cells are touted by Tesla as having “five times” the energy capacity and are already being used in some of their snazzy rides, including the much-anticipated Cybertruck. Just last month, Musk announced a milestone of producing 100 million of these bad boys. However, whispers from The Information suggest that Musk has set a year-end deadline for his team to tackle cost issues and other hurdles. Nothing like a little pressure!
Meanwhile, CATL batteries are powering everything from Tesla vehicles in China to Ford’s electrifying Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning in North America. Zeng’s company is all about those lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which might not offer the same range as those cylindrical cells but definitely have their place in the market.
While Zeng wasn’t too impressed with Musk’s battery expertise, he did give him props for his skills with chips and software. But he had a little criticism up his sleeve regarding Musk’s tendency to overpromise timelines—especially when it comes to Full Self-Driving technology. “Maybe something needs five years,” he quipped. “But he says two years. I definitely asked him why. He told me he wanted to push people.”
Well, folks, it looks like we’re in for an electrifying showdown in the battery arena! Buckle up for what’s sure to be a wild ride ahead!
