The fact that BYD will be the new supplier for Tesla brand LFP cells has been known and confirmed since June of this year, but according to industry insiders, precisely these cells are now to be delivered to Tesla. The Tesla Gigafactory in Grünheide is to receive the first delivery of the so-called “blade batteries”. The first Tesla Model Y should then roll off the assembly line in Grünheide in a month at the earliest.
In the Gigafactory Shanghai, no LFP cells from BYD are to be used for the time being, reports the Chinese portal "Sina Tech", citing several sources familiar with the processes. The well-known cells from CATL and LG are to be installed there.
In the Gigafactory Grünheide, Tesla currently only builds the popular SUV variant Tesla Model Y. It has been known for a long time that Tesla wants to be the first model to convert the Model Y to the structural battery pack. The first prototypes have already been presented and produced. The report does not say whether Tesla will use the new cells from BYD to replace the current cells in the current battery pack consisting of 2170 round cells or insert the cells into the new structural battery pack.
Blade batteries from BYD are LFP cells in a special form factor, they are very long and narrow. As lithium iron phosphate cells, they do not require materials such as nickel and cobalt. The blade battery should also enable a higher energy density. According to reports, up to 150 Wh/kg should be possible. In addition, BYD has repeatedly emphasized the extremely high level of safety of these battery cells.
