Panasonic Presents First Li-ion EV Battery to Tesla

Panasonic Energy Company President Naoto Noguchi presented Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel with the first production Lithium-ion cells manufactured at the new facility during a recent visit. In January, the two agreed to collaborate to develop next-generation battery cells for electric vehicles. Tesla will use Panasonic cells featuring a Nickel-based Lithium ion chemistry in their newest battery packs. (Earlier post.)

The Suminoe factory will start producing 3.1 Ah battery cells, the highest energy density cells currently available. The facility will produce more than 300 million cells per year.

These cutting-edge Panasonic batteries will combine with Tesla’s battery pack technology to produce the highest-energy density EV battery packs in the world.

—JB Straubel

Tesla has also announced that Tesla Roadsters will be delivered to select customers in Japan—the company’s first deliveries into the Asia market. Tesla has already delivered more than 1,000 Roadsters to customers in North America and Europe.

Tesla battery packs power the Roadster; Tesla is also in production of battery packs for the Daimler Smart EVs and in battery development programs with other vehicle and stationary customers. For next-generation battery packs, Tesla and Panasonic continue to deepen their relationship to optimize EV cells initially announced in January.