LG Chem Starts Mass Production of Single-Crystal High-Nickel Cathodes in Korea

It will be interesting to see if Tesla will use these new LG batteries in the cybertruck, semi electric truck and the upcoming Roadster 2 as they are the 4680 cylindrical cells.

SEOUL, June 26, 2023 – LG Chem continues its leadership in battery materials with Korea’s first-ever mass production of single-crystal high-nickel cathodes.

"In the initial phases, LG Chem will be mixing single-crystal cathode materials to conventional cathode materials by a ratio of 2:8, and gradually switch to those containing 100% single-crystals. LG Chem will also expand the application of these cathode materials to next-generation batteries such as 4680 cylindrical cells (with external dimensions of 46 millimeters in diameter and 80 millimeters in height) from existing pouch-type batteries.

Single-crystal high-nickel cathodes are made from single particles of several metals such as nickel, cobalt, and manganese, and are expected to play a pivotal role in settling the key challenges of next-generation batteries in terms of lifespan and capacity. It can help boosting the battery lifespan by more than 30% and increasing the capacity by 10% or higher."

LG & Panasonic rumoured to supply Tesla’s 4680 battery cells.

"The larger 4680 cells will later also be used in the Tesla Semi electric truck and the upcoming Roadster 2. For the production of these models, it will be important how quickly Tesla can scale its own 4680 cell production. Reuters reports, citing insiders, that the manufacturer is now securing itself through suppliers Panasonic and LGES – although it has been clear since the presentation of the 2020 cell plans that 4680 cells would also be sourced from suppliers – although it has remained open since then in what quantities this will happen."