What materials are used in Tesla batteries?
2 Answers
Tesla models currently use NCA (Nickel Cobalt Aluminum) type batteries. Here is an introduction to Tesla batteries: 1. The common ratio of nickel, cobalt, and aluminum in NCA batteries is 8:1.5:0.5. The aluminum content is very low, making it close to a binary material. Aluminum (a transition metal) replaces manganese, modifying lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide through ion doping and surface coating. Ion doping enhances material stability and improves cycle performance. However, during production, because aluminum is an amphoteric metal that is difficult to precipitate, the manufacturing process of NCA materials presents challenges. Nickel-cobalt-aluminum batteries require high manufacturing precision and are costly, but aluminum helps improve the chemical stability of battery cycles. 2. Within the ternary system, nickel content can be increased to achieve higher battery energy density. However, the nickel-cobalt-aluminum crystal structure is less stable than nickel-cobalt-manganese, making it prone to collapse at high temperatures, leading to thermal runaway. Additionally, excessively high pH levels can cause cell swelling, posing risks. Overall, Tesla's ternary lithium batteries are currently popular, with most pure electric vehicles using them. Lithium batteries are lighter and have higher energy density, making them highly suitable for pure electric vehicles.
Tesla batteries are mainly divided into two types with significant differences in materials. The Long Range version uses nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) ternary lithium batteries, which have high energy density and excellent range performance. The Standard and basic models now predominantly use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are more cost-effective and safer. The former's cathode material is a nickel-cobalt-aluminum mixture, enabling the battery to store more energy; the latter's cathode is lithium iron phosphate, which is less prone to overheating but has inferior low-temperature performance. Both types use graphite for the anode, and the electrolyte consists of organic solvents with lithium salts. The battery casing is typically made of aluminum alloy, while copper is predominantly used for heat dissipation plates. Musk recently mentioned that the 4680 battery incorporates a silicon anode, significantly boosting storage capacity, though mass production hasn't been fully rolled out yet. When choosing a car, you can actually select the battery type based on your typical driving conditions – friends in northern regions should note that LFP batteries experience more noticeable performance drops in winter.
