Tesla's Evolution: Battery Density Increased 30% from First Car to Model 3

So far, we still don't know the battery specifications of the Tesla Model 3. Media reports and assumptions vary. Tesla CEO Musk once said that the Model 3 can drive 215 miles (346 kilometers) on a single charge. Tesla also said that the battery of the Model S and Model X is at least 60 kWh, and the battery pack of the Model 3 is even smaller.

Recently, Tesla CTO JB Straubel said in a speech: "When the density of the battery increases, the cost is also decreasing. This may not be intuitive and people don't realize it. When the capacity is very high, the cost is almost the same as the weight. You can look at the raw materials of the battery and see how much it weighs, and the cost is determined by it."

The so-called "energy density" refers to how much energy a battery pack can store, which is closely related to weight. When the energy density of a battery increases, more energy can be stored in a smaller volume. The lower the weight, the less material, and the lower the cost. Shi Chaobao also said that there is no breakthrough technology in batteries, and Tesla and other companies are not relying on such breakthroughs. On the contrary, the performance of batteries is steadily and continuously improving, at least 5% per year.

Looking back at the performance improvements of Tesla's energy products, you can see how much progress has been made in the past few years. The Powerwall 2 and Powerpack 2 battery packs have an average weight per kilowatt-hour lower than previous products, but the capacity is doubled.

As time goes by, battery performance will continue to improve, and the Model 3 battery energy density will be higher than the Model S. Shi Chaobao claimed that the energy density of the Model 3 is 30% higher than the original Model S battery pack.

"Battery performance is improving steadily every year. Energy density refers to how much energy a battery of a specific volume can store, and it increases by about 5% every year. Energy density may be one of the key indicators we care about." Shi Chaobao said, "From the launch of Roadster to Model S, battery energy density has increased by about 40%. When we designed Model 3, it increased by another 30%. Battery performance is improving every year."

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.