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I wonder whether Tesla will go into the market supplying batteries to other manufacturers? Such a price point would give them a huge advantage in that market.

WhompingWindows 8y ago
Given their plans to expand their auto manufacturing with new factories in the EU and China, and their growing ambitions to create stationary energy storage for renewable generation, I'd say they won't be selling their automotive batteries anytime soon. I think it more likely they sell their electric power train, which they have done in the past.
- GW150914 8y ago
  Doesn’t Panasonic make their batteries? To what extent can Panasonic decide to sell the batteries without dealing with Tesla?
  - Retric 8y ago
    > Panasonic make their batteries No, they are a partner and have put up a significant fraction of the capital for the plant though.
    - GW150914 8y ago
      Right, but as I was under the impression that the actual 18650 Cells are made by Panasonic in Japan.
      - stetrain 8y ago
        My understanding is that the article is referring to the new 2170 Cells (used in Model 3) which are produced at the Panasonic/Tesla partner Gigafactory in Nevada. Even for the cells produced in Japan if they are using IP owned by Tesla in their construction or chemistry they could still have a say in who Panasonic sells them to.
      - deleted 8y ago
        [deleted]
  - janlaureys 8y ago
    Weren't they planning to use their gigafactories to build batteries themselves as well ? I remember reading that a full gigafactory would process the same amount of silicium as the total current world production (at the time).
    - GW150914 8y ago
      As I understand it that was (is?) the plan, to build the cars and batteries under the same roof. I think Tesla and Panasonic were talking about building a similar factory in China too, although I don’t know the status of that today.
hinkley 8y ago
I thought that was half the point of all the early gigafactory PR? He anticipated having many more of them than his companies needed.
prostoalex 8y ago
They seem to start diversifying the distribution channels with residential and utility-scale battery installs.

WhompingWindows 8y ago

Given their plans to expand their auto manufacturing with new factories in the EU and China, and their growing ambitions to create stationary energy storage for renewable generation, I'd say they won't be selling their automotive batteries anytime soon. I think it more likely they sell their electric power train, which they have done in the past.

GW150914 8y ago
Doesn’t Panasonic make their batteries? To what extent can Panasonic decide to sell the batteries without dealing with Tesla?
- Retric 8y ago
  > Panasonic make their batteries No, they are a partner and have put up a significant fraction of the capital for the plant though.
  - GW150914 8y ago
    Right, but as I was under the impression that the actual 18650 Cells are made by Panasonic in Japan.
    - stetrain 8y ago
      My understanding is that the article is referring to the new 2170 Cells (used in Model 3) which are produced at the Panasonic/Tesla partner Gigafactory in Nevada. Even for the cells produced in Japan if they are using IP owned by Tesla in their construction or chemistry they could still have a say in who Panasonic sells them to.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
- janlaureys 8y ago
  Weren't they planning to use their gigafactories to build batteries themselves as well ? I remember reading that a full gigafactory would process the same amount of silicium as the total current world production (at the time).
  - GW150914 8y ago
    As I understand it that was (is?) the plan, to build the cars and batteries under the same roof. I think Tesla and Panasonic were talking about building a similar factory in China too, although I don’t know the status of that today.

hinkley 8y ago

I thought that was half the point of all the early gigafactory PR? He anticipated having many more of them than his companies needed.

prostoalex 8y ago

They seem to start diversifying the distribution channels with residential and utility-scale battery installs.