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Tesla CEO Elon Musk says the new Model Y, to be produced in the currently under construction GigaBerlin, will come with all the breakthrough tech announced at the Battery Day event. These include the new 4680 cells, single-piece front & rear casting, and a structural battery pack.
Berlin will use 4680 cell with structural battery pack & front & rear single piece castings. Also, a new paint system. Lot of new technology will happen in Berlin, which means significant production risk. Fremont & Shanghai will transition in ~2 years when new tech is proven.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2020
According to the Battery Day event, all these advancements add up to a whopping 54 percent increase in the range of the cars. The current, Long Range Model Y has 316 miles of EPA estimated range. So a 50 percent increase in range means the new Model Y should have a 474-mile range.
The reason why I said 54 percent the first time but 50 percent the second is because, according to the Battery Day presentation, the Model Y will have a nickel manganese cathode as opposed to the highest energy pure nickel cathode. This causes a 4 percent reduction from the maximum 54 percent increase in range. This is due to a limitation in worldwide nickel supply and the company’s desire to maximize the number of batteries it can produce for a given amount of nickel.
Related Story: Metals Analyst: By 2030 Tesla To Need 50% Of All Nickel Supply, Doubts Viability Of future Plans.
One thing that is not yet clear is if Tesla is going to keep the same size battery pack in the new Model Y. Given the decrease in battery weight, the company has the ability to add more batteries in the same space. This could give the new model more than 500-miles of range.
However, there are a couple of things that might stop Tesla from doing this, the first one being battery shortage. Musk multiple times in the past has said the biggest constraint in Tesla’s growth is battery cell shortage. In the Battery Day event, Tesla has outlined a number of manufacturing and cell chemistry breakthroughs to solve this. But this will take 2 to 3 years to be fully integrated into the vehicle. In the meantime, Tesla can decide to make the battery pack smaller till more cells are available.
The second reason is, Tesla might not want there to be massive differences in the cars it sells in different parts of the world. This might even force Tesla to keep the GigaBerlin Model Y at the same range as the current one. But even then that would mean a much lighter car. This should improve the car’s efficiency, performance, and handling.
On top of these powertrain and chassis improvements, Elon Musk also says the Berlin made Model Y should have a new paint system. In the past describing the new paint scheme, Elon Musk has said Giga Berlin will have the world's most advanced paint shop. Giving the car more layers of stunning colors that subtly change with curvature.
We have reported on the company, Geico Taikisha, helping Tesla achieve this revolution in the paint shop.
This all seems wonderful, but Elon Musk also cautions, given all the new technologies to come to GigaBerlin, Tesla might run into production issues. The CEO says building a mass-market vehicle is a 1000 percent to 10,000 percent more difficult than building a prototype.
So what do you think? Are you excited about the Berlin made Model Y? Will Tesla give it over 450 miles range? And do you think Tesla will have the same manufacturing issues it had with the Model 3? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments below.
For more information Checkout: Based on Elon Musk’s tweet we think a Model S and X chassis and powertrain refresh will come in 2021. Also, see Tesla in Talks with Indonesia and Canada for Nickel Mining And Possibly New Factory.
Tinsae Aregay has been following Tesla and The evolution of the EV space on a daily basis for several years. He covers everything about Tesla from the cars to Elon Musk, the energy business, and autonomy. Follow Tinsae on Twitter at
@TinsaeAregay
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