The Truth About Tesla Model 3 Batteries: Part 1

Today we are going to talk about “The Truth about Tesla’s Batteries.” If you’re thinking about a Tesla, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how cheap they are to fill up, how little maintenance they require, and with recent Model 3 Production ramp ups, we’re on the verge of absolute Tesla ubiquity. But one of the questions that we believe keep potential buyers up at night, surrounds their battery packs. So we’ve compiled a list of all the questions we’ve received, and we’re going to break it down, step by step in this two part video series.

**NOTE** We incorrectly converted lbs to kgs in the costs. So Please go by the price per pound! Lithium = $7.50/lb, Nickel = $4.05 /lb, Manganese = $0.93 /lb, Cobalt = $36.50 / lb

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[TwoBitDaVinci]

Thinking Tesla, Solar or anything else? Support Us, use our Links!

[louis]

Kg conversion error makes me question the reliability of everything else in this video. You should re record and update the graphics

[brett]

such a shame people are complaining about this. So much work and energy put into this video and so much quality content. A bunch of idiots complaining about a conversion error. Look past it and appreciate what you've been given for free.

[sagarmeena]

this episode makes so much sense today with all the Battery Day news going around with regards to Silicon in place of Graphite

[buffteethr]

I am a 20 year engineering professional. I discovered your channel yesterday an have been watching your videos for the past couple days. I must say you are amazing at explaining very technical engineering subjects. Keep up the good work.

[BarackBananabama]

I'd like to buy everything from you by kilograms.

[engrsmukhtar]

I recently wrote a paper on batteries. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into making this video. Respect.

[FedericoGalimbertiApparel]

Good job! Clear and well put together! Only one detail: there are about 2.2 lbs per kg. So the price of the raw materials for kg needs to be rectified.

[GregPeden]

Another very important reason for using several large cylindrical cells is cooling performance. The cooling loop is wound through the batteries and the cell size is optimized for an ideal surface area-to-volume as determined by the necessary worst-case cooling performance. It also reduces the risk of a cascading fire since the energy in each cell is smaller, and it increases the system-level tolerance for cell failure since a failed cell will either fail to conduct or short and cause the fuse to open, and in either case this will have next-to-no noticeable effect on the battery overall since each battery pack features several thousand cells.

[davidkreimer]

Another big plus for small cells in Tesla is that each small cell can be quickly cooled of or warmed up, quickly, if necessary. Lithium batteries hate being too cold or too hot. In the Tesla packs, each small cell is partially wrapped by a liquid cooling 'blanket' that can provide cooling, in the fast charging mode, or heating, in the artic like conditions. The cabin A/C provides colding. For hoting, all on board hoting areas are used(ie...computing heat and whatever other heat sources can scrounged up) . If that isn't enough, resistance heaters are used from the battery, and this is a significant battery drain which leads to big losses in m.p.g. The colding losses are smaller.

[Arun-Arasan]

That was an incredibly well-researched and insigtful video on the chemistry of EV batteries... completely hooked! Great job guys! Looking forward to the next parts in the series.

[JamesAlburyTheSkyAboveUs]

This was an excellent video! I'm excited about getting a Model S by next year this time (it'll most likely be a CPO from 2015). The cool thing about Tesla batteries is that, according to long term Model S owner's statistics, even after 1000s of miles and repeated charges, they still retain over 90% of their original "mileage". Tesla really did their homework when it came to charging design and thermal management. I'm very excited to see part 2 of your series. 😀

[stevebothe]

A couple of things I noticed that you missed. Whilst Panasonic own and operate the cell manufacturing side at Giga Factory 1, Tesla have been instrumental in developing the various cell chemistry's and form factor. Also, the latest info from the last share holders meeting, it was mentioned that the next generation cell would be cobalt free.

[warrenwilczewski]

Your conversion from pounds to kilograms is going the wrong way. To get a price per kilogram, you need to MULTIPLY the price per pound by 2.204622, not divide.

[Davidsavage]

Teslas video's are soothing .
Because I've deans listed for years at LA trade tech in electrical math, refrigeration and engineering .
I can't be lied to about anything .
Look forward to part 2.

[GeorgiDimitrovX]

Awesome content. Well structured and understandably presented. There are some setbacks like the weight swap and some forgotten letters here and there, but this can be fixed with some reviewing. I see great potential in this channel. Keep it up.

[ricardotavaresdias]

Excellent video, apart from the small detail of prices being wrong when comparing pounds and kilograms.

[terryofford]

Brilliant and interesting informative Video, what a long we we have travelled from the Le Clanche' Cells of yesteryear.

[marshallfischer]

I've long held those same questions. With Congo being Chief among them... I support the spirit of Tesla.

[TRYtoHELPyou]

Nice video! I think you will find that the Tesla's with different batteries in fact run at different voltages. 60 vs. 85 for instance. I see people supercharging those on youtube and they have different voltage ranges...