Samsung developing higher capacity 4680 style batteries than the ones it prepares for Tesla
Samsung will be upping the ante in the electric vehicles’ cylindrical 4680 battery game by developing even taller such cells that are more challenging for production but can offer much higher capacity and economy of scale. The 4680 cells that Samsung SDI is preparing for Tesla could soon be joined by longer 4695 and even 46120 ones, all on a pilot manufacturing line in Cheonan.
These battery numbers are simply the diameter and length of the cells, so making the 4680 battery taller means much higher per-unit capacity, especially in the case of the 46120 one that will be 120mm in length. The 4680 cell is in itself superior to the current widespread 2170 electric vehicle battery pack. It offers way higher capacity and just the move to the new cell design can offer increased range in the same battery footprint. The 46120 pack that Samsung is developing may thus improve 50% on all those counts, while remaining more affordable to manufacture compared to packs of the same capacity but made from smaller batteries.
Before it entered Tesla’s 4680 battery supply diversification plans, Samsung has been toying with the idea to develop shorter cells that are much easier to manufacture. To set itself apart from Panasonic and LG that are also striving to be Tesla’s chief 4680 pack suppliers, however, Samsung has embarked on a mission to develop said taller 4695 and 46120 cells with higher capacity and volume utilization.
Whether or not Tesla will also benefit from Samsung’s or CATL’s superior 4680-style batteries, remains to be heard, but Samsung is planning to expand the new designs to mass production in its battery factory in Malaysia.
