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18650 and 21700 (aka 2170) are standard cylindrical shapes for EV battery cells, so the comparison to AAs falls flat. Tesla has launched the 4680 cell, and the
by timerol 3y ago
18650 and 21700 (aka 2170) are standard cylindrical shapes for EV battery cells, so the comparison to AAs falls flat. Tesla has launched the 4680 cell, and the industry may move in that direction. Batteries are custom on a per car basis, in the same way that remote controls are all shaped uniquely, but almost all of them will take either AAs or CR2032 cells.
Pouch and "blade" cells are much less standard, and are also used in a bunch of EVs, like GM's Ultium platform.
Following through the examples in the article, the battery factories are all also including battery cell manufacturing either onsite or nearby. (The BMW example has "an agreement to source next generation lithium-ion battery cells from Envision AESC, which will build a new plant in the state." The others are combo cell+battery factories, like Tesla does.)
- acyou 3y agoInterestingly, the shapes are not standard. The lengths and diameters vary a little from cell to cell, and quite significantly from cell type to cell type (Yes, I'm talking 21700 from one manufacturer vs 21700 from another manufacturer, and different models of 21700 from the same manufacturer). That's just the tip of the iceberg, never mind the actual cell performance. In pack manufacturing, you cannot swap cell types out easily. I could go on... That's why they are making the cells near the pack assembly facilities. It's because they are planning to use those specific cells.