Techies, investors, await news of Tesla battery potential

Techies, investors, await news of Tesla battery potential

SeattlePI.com

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DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is expected to announce a breakthrough in electric vehicle battery chemistry on Tuesday that could bring down the cost of the vehicles and increase their range and durability.

The new technology, to be unveiled Tuesday by CEO Elon Musk, could mean a broader range of travel and improved battery durability.

But Musk on Twitter Monday warned that the new technology would not be ready for high-volume production until 2022, sending company shares down 5% Tuesday.

The battery event will follow the company’s annual shareholder meeting Tuesday afternoon at Tesla's U.S. assembly plant in Fremont, California, south of San Francisco.

Musk has made made vague references about emerging battery technology on Twitter, and analysts expect him to announce a battery that will be able to travel 1 million miles before its storage capacity begins to deteriorate.

The new technology may rely on lithium metal, a replacement for the current lithium ion batteries now used in Tesla and other electric vehicles. Lithium metal can store more energy than lithium ion batteries and can handle more charging cycles, but it’s difficult to manufacture and keep the temperature stable, said Guidehouse Principal Analyst Sam Abuelsamid.

“Everybody's been been trying to make lithium metal viable,” Abuelsamid said. “If they can do it, that would definitely make for an advance in energy density.”

Tesla also could announce another chemistry, lithium ion phosphate, which is used in China. It can be recharged many more times than lithium ion, and is stable and safe to use, but it doesn't store as much energy, Abuelsamid said.

The new chemistry likely will be needed as Tesla rolls out larger vehicles including its “Cybertruck” pickup and a Semi that is under development. The...

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