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At Current Rates, Tesla Could Soon Suck Up Worldwide Supply of Li-Ion Cells

cartechboy writes "Lets just say Elon Musk may need to go battery shopping, like, big-time. Here's some little-understood Tesla math that could turn the global market for cylindrical lithium-ion cells upside down by 2015. It turns out the massive Model S battery takes almost 2,000 times the number of cells a basic laptop does. Assume Tesla just doubles production from its current 21K cars/year to 40K cars/year. (Something it expects to do by 2015). At that point, Tesla would require the *entire* existing global capacity for 18650 commodity cells. That assumes no other growth, no next gen model, nada. What should Elon do? Better get on the horn to Panasonic and Samsung."

7 of 351 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by nitehawk214 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Make more?

    Crisis solved. I will even waive my customary consulting fee.

    --
    I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  2. Re:18,650? Really? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Funny

    Basically, they're on their way to consume the li-on's share of Li-Ion cells. Sounds about right!

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. Re:price competition via supply shortfall. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    JESUS CHRIST it's a li-on, GET IN THE CAR!

  4. Re:price competition via supply shortfall. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The li-on is already in the car! It's a trap!

  5. Re:price competition via supply shortfall. by msauve · · Score: 5, Funny

    Just wait until the new titanium-graphite (TiGr) and beryllium-argon (BeAr) batteries reach the market.

    --
    "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
  6. Re:On the plus side... by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, it took me 2 seconds to type my question and get a response. That's 3 seconds I have to not be a smug asshole.

    --
    I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
  7. Re: price competition via supply shortfall. by xaxa · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whoosh!

    Tungsten-hydroxy-osmium-hydride? Sounds expensive!