Tesla batteries: LFP vs. NCA vs. NMC

What's the deal with the new Tesla LFP battery? And how long does a Tesla battery last?

Since electric cars have conquered the market, the most important part of a car is no longer the "engine," but the "battery." The energy storage device makes up a large part of the vehicle's total price and determines its weight, range, and performance—in short, its competitiveness.

Therefore A great deal of money and resources are invested in battery research, but the exact details of a battery pack are often kept strictly secret. However, some information is known, and we would like to present it to you here.

In this article, we find out which batteries the US automaker uses and what the differences are.

LFP battery Tesla: Batteries are Asian

Mass-producing batteries is an enormously complex undertaking that only a few manufacturers worldwide, most of them in Asia, have mastered. This is why even Tesla sources such a crucial component as the battery for most of its vehicles from the Far East.

The American manufacturer is supplied by the big names in the business: Panasonic, who already supplied the battery cells for the original Roadster, LG Chem and CATL. the US automaker with different batteries.

In recent years, Tesla has been attempting to establish its own battery production in American Gigafactories and, in the future, also in Grünheide, but this is progressing slowly. Given the strong growth of the Tesla brand, the company will therefore remain dependent on Asian specialists for many years to come.

Tesla battery lifespan: It all comes down to chemistry

In terms of cell chemistry, Tesla uses three different solutions in its vehicles: NCA, NMC, and LFP. They are all lithium-ion batteries – the industry has yet to find a viable alternative – but with different chemical properties. This chemistry determines essential vehicle characteristics as well as the battery's lifespan, and naturally, each has its advantages and disadvantages.

NCA battery Tesla

The "oldest" battery chemistry that Tesla has used since the Roadster is the NCA battery. NCA stands for Nickel-cobalt-aluminumThis describes the chemical composition of the battery. Tesla NCA cells have a high energy density of 322 Wh/kg and high power output. Accordingly, they are ideally suited for long-range and performance models.

Disadvantages of NCA technology include the use of expensive cobalt mined under questionable conditions, as well as a comparatively high risk of explosion in the event of severe damage. Furthermore, NCA cells should always be charged between 20 and 90% to achieve the longest possible lifespan.

This is around 3000 charging cycles, at which point often only about 70% of the original capacity remains. However, if one conservatively assumes a range of 200 kilometers per charging cycle, which is realistic even at 70% capacity, a total lifespan of 600,000 kilometers is still achievable. This lifespan is naturally reached sooner the less frequently the battery is charged. Supercharger or other fast chargers.

NMC battery Tesla

The second technology used by Tesla is NMC, which stands for nickel-manganese-cobalt. This technology shares many properties with the NCA cell, although the energy density (230–250 Wh/kg) and lifespan (2000 cycles) are lower.

The NMC cell also uses cobalt, but has the advantage that its proportion can be significantly reduced by adding aluminum (NCMA cell). Tesla uses this variant. also since 2021.

LFP Battery Tesla

The LFP battery (lithium iron phosphate) can do without cobalt entirely. The compromise: a clear lower energy density (currently 130 to a maximum of 190 Wh/kg), a weaker power output and poorer performance at low temperatures than the technologies mentioned above.

For this reason, their use in electric cars was not possible for a long time. However, improvements in batteries, software, and motor efficiency have allowed the installation of LFP batteries in entry-level models with limited range since 2020. This also brings many advantages: LFP batteries are cheaper, have a lower risk of explosion if damaged, and have a significantly longer lifespan.

Depending on the manufacturer, the LFP battery in Tesla vehicles has a lifespan of up to 10,000 charge cycles. Furthermore, charging the Tesla LFP battery is simpler, as it can be continuously charged to 100% without any issues. Here Click here for our "How to properly charge an LFP Tesla battery" guide.

Tesla Battery: The Format

Not only in cell chemistry, but also in cell format, Tesla uses different solutions – four, to be precise. The first is the 1865 cell (13 millimeters in diameter, 65 millimeters in height), which Panasonic supplies with NCA chemistry.

Also important is the 2170 cell (same meaning of the numbers), which Panasonic manufactures in the USA together with Tesla using NCA chemistry, but which LG Chem also supplies using NCM(A) chemistry.

For several years, Tesla has also been developing its own cell in the 4680 format and with NCM chemistry, the production of which is slowly ramping up. The 4680 batteries are installed directly into the vehicle body, which Tesla calls a "structural battery pack." The LFP cells, sourced from CATL, are unique in that they are not cylindrical, but have a prismatic shape.

What's inside where?

Now for the exciting question: Which battery is installed in which Tesla model?

Tesla Model 3 LFP battery in the base version

At launch, all versions of the Model 3 were available with 2170 cells, which the Long Range and Performance versions still use today. However, since 2020, Tesla has been installing the LFP battery in the base version, further increasing the already good battery lifespan of the entry-level Tesla Model 3.

Those with experience using the Tesla Model 3 LFP battery often report difficulty in charging it to 100%. Calibrating the Tesla Model 3 LFP battery—charging it very slowly until it's fully charged—can help in this situation.

The Tesla Model Y also uses an LFP battery in the base version.

Similar to the Model 3, the entry-level version of the Model Y also uses LFP cells, which also benefits the average Tesla Model Y battery lifespan. By the way: You can also extend the lifespan of your Tesla with suitable protective accessories from [brand name missing]. Teslas – it's worth it!

The remaining Model Y variants use the 2170 cells, although those produced at the Gigafactory Texas are already equipped with the new 4680 cells. This is also planned for the German Model Ys produced in Grünheide in the future.

Tesla Model S/X: Tried and tested technology

The very first Model S, which rolled off the assembly line in 2012, already used the 1865 cells with NCA chemistry. When the Model X was introduced, it too was equipped with these batteries. Even today, the electric car manufacturer still relies on this tried-and-tested technology in its flagship models, which is hardly surprising.

Ultimately, NCA technology currently delivers by far the best performance in terms of range and power, and the expensive cobalt definitely pays off due to the high selling prices of luxury cars.

Which Experiences Have you worked with Tesla batteries? Write it in the comments below.

Source of featured image: Sung Wang via Unsplash