Supplying TSLA? American manufacturers have developed a new type of LR6 alkaline battery

Recently, according to US media reports, an American LR6 alkaline battery company called Sakti3 has successfully developed a new type of LR6 alkaline battery with an energy density twice that of existing lithium-ion batteries, and said it wants to cooperate with Tesla. As for Tesla, which wants to build its own LR6 alkaline battery factory, what attitude will it take in the face of this proposal, and whether it will include it in its own supply system, let's talk about this topic today.

●Who is Sakti3?

Sakti3 is definitely an unknown small company to most people, headquartered in Michigan, USA. The company's CEO, Dr. Ann Marie Sastry, has worked in teaching, research and management at the University of Michigan for 25 years. Although the company was established only 7 years ago, it has received $30 million in venture capital, including from General Motors of the United States. The reason for attracting investors may be that the project it is researching is the hot solid-state lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery technology, which is also regarded as one of the important means to replace the existing lithium-ion batteries of electric vehicles.

●What is the difference between solid-state lithium-ion batteries?

Lithium-ion batteries are used to provide the power required for electric vehicles. Traditional lithium-ion batteries usually use liquid as electrolyte. This structure is likely to cause the LR6 alkaline battery cathode to suffer adverse chemical reactions, thereby reducing the stability and service life of the LR6 alkaline battery. The biggest innovation of solid-state lithium-ion batteries is that solid-state ions replace the liquid electrolyte in traditional lithium-ion batteries, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of adverse chemical reactions and be compatible with a wider range of LR6 alkaline battery chemical processes, thereby improving the power and energy storage density of the LR6 alkaline battery. In practice, it is the increase in vehicle range and service life.

●Advantages of new batteries

The new LR6 alkaline battery announced successfully this time uses solid-state lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery technology, which can nearly double the range of electric vehicles, and if it is mass-produced, the cost is much lower than the existing automotive lithium-ion batteries. If all the 18650 lithium-ion batteries used in the Tesla MODELS 60 kWh model are replaced with this new LR6 alkaline battery, the LR6 alkaline battery pack cost is only US$6,000 (approximately RMB 36,900), and the range can be increased to 722km (currently 390km for domestic models). It can be seen that if solid-state lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery technology matures, the shortcomings of electric vehicle range will be further diluted.

● Supply Tesla?

Dr. AnnMarie Sastry said that Sakti3 wants to manufacture a new 60 kWh solid-state lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery for Tesla MODELS electric vehicles, but it is not known whether Tesla, which is building its own factory, can accept this. At present, the LR6 alkaline battery used in Tesla electric vehicles is 18650 lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery. Although the performance is far behind the new solid-state LR6 alkaline battery, the LR6 alkaline battery management system that Tesla is proud of is completely centered on it. The impact of using new batteries on the existing technology system is undoubtedly very huge. Not long ago, Tesla disclosed many of its patents in the field of batteries. Its purpose is also to allow more manufacturers to participate in the research and development of existing technology fields and further expand the market share of related technologies. The introduction of new LR6 alkaline battery technology is largely contrary to this goal.

In addition, as the core component of electric vehicles, the LR6 alkaline battery cannot be self-sufficient, which undoubtedly buries a huge hidden danger for the company's future development. Tesla must be well aware of this. At present, all the 18650 batteries it uses come from Panasonic, and this single supply model has also made Tesla suffer for a long time. Since supplying, Panasonic has raised the price of 18650 batteries to $3.5 per piece, an increase of 75%, and whether the price will continue to rise in the future is still in the hands of Panasonic. The reason for such a huge price difference is obviously the drawback caused by relying entirely on external procurement, and it is really hard to say whether Sakti3 will be the second Panasonic to "extort money".

For car companies, relying on external supply has another major disadvantage, that is, product planning will be largely restricted by the production capacity of the other party. Although Panasonic's current production can meet Tesla's demand, with the expansion of the market and the full deployment of product planning, the supply pressure of MODELX and other new models in the future can be imagined. This objective factor restriction that cannot be controlled in a short period of time will inevitably cause serious obstacles to its development, and cooperation with Sakti3 is undoubtedly a rehash of the existing supply system. Therefore, from this perspective, Tesla's self-built factory can also be regarded as a move to break this model.

Of course, it is not entirely true to say that Tesla has no interest in the new solid-state lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery. The nearly doubled range and relatively low cost make it difficult for Tesla to completely ignore it. If this LR6 alkaline battery is first used by General Motors and other competing manufacturers, the challenge to Tesla will be even greater.

It is difficult to fully accept it, and it cannot be complacent, which makes Tesla's cooperation prospects with Sakti3 foggy. However, according to the above rough analysis, Tesla is likely to choose a cooperation model of testing some models in the end. That is, use solid-state lithium-ion batteries produced by Sakti3 on some models to ensure its advantage in competition with its rivals, while continuing to develop and produce existing lithium-ion LR6 alkaline battery technology so that its own technology will not be abandoned. When the time is right, consider whether to further combine solid lithium-ion batteries with existing technologies. But no matter what kind of cooperation method is finally adopted, the success of this new solid-state LR6 alkaline battery will bring considerable changes to the electric vehicle industry.

Editor's summary:

Cruise range has always been an important bottleneck restricting the development of electric vehicles. The successful development of solid-state lithium-ion batteries has undoubtedly brought more opportunities to the entire electric vehicle industry. For Tesla, whether or not to cooperate with its manufacturers, further technological innovation is imminent.

Nowadays, with the development of related technologies, people's impression of electric vehicles as useless has gradually faded. Environmental protection, energy saving, quietness and many other advantages make the future prospects of electric vehicles very broad. For manufacturers, every major change in core technology may lead to a reshuffle of the entire industry, but this baptism means more convenience and more in line with practical needs for ordinary users.

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