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Tesla China supplier CATL launches cost-effective sodium-ion battery cell
Tesla China battery cell supplier Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) unveiled its sodium-ion battery earlier today, along with a solution that could integrate the cells with lithium-ion batteries in a single pack. The sodium-ion cells are a more cost-effective option than the lithium-ion batteries, opening the door for lower prices in the EV battleground market of China.
The introduction of sodium-ion cells is an alternative option to the lithium-ion cells Tesla has used in its vehicles. CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun highlighted the favorable characteristics of utilizing sodium-ion cells during the company’s online launch event earlier today.
“Sodium-ion batteries have unique advantages in low-temperature performance, fast charging, and environmental adaptability,” Zeng said. “Moreover, they’re compatible and complementary with lithium-ion batteries. Diversified technical routes are an important guarantee for the long-term development of the industry.”
CATL said it will set up a supply chain for the new cells in 2023. The cells do not contain lithium, cobalt, or nickel, but the battery manufacturer did not disclose any cost details of the new cell.
Tesla has long been working with suppliers for battery cells and has partnerships with Panasonic, LG Chem, and CATL to supply its electric vehicles with batteries. While working with third-party suppliers, the company has also researched on its own with the help of a battery team at Dalhousie University with legendary cell scientist Jeff Dahn. Tesla is not opposed to exploring battery cell chemistries favorable for electric vehicles, especially if the new cells can create more range, power, or a longer life cycle.
CATL has worked with Tesla since Gigafactory Shanghai started producing vehicles in late 2019. Tesla started customer deliveries in early 2020 at the Chinese plant and has relied on CATL’s world-class battery manufacturing to keep up with growing demand in China. CATL sold 34.1 GWh in the first half of 2021, up 234% year-over-year, according to Automotive News China. The company has a 30 percent market share, but the company has been struggling with the rising cost of lithium carbonate, which has doubled this year. Additionally, nickel has also increased in price this year.
Due to increased demand, lithium prices are expected to trend higher this year and into next year, especially as more automakers extend into the electric automotive sector. These forecasts have launched battery makers like CATL into a widespread effort to experiment and develop other cell chemistries that would be favorable for their clients, and sodium-ion batteries are a great alternative.
Despite the sodium-ion cell’s reputation for somewhat lower energy density, CATL said that its Research and Development team had reached an energy density of 160 watt-hours per kilogram, and it should exceed 200 Wh/kg in the coming years as more experimentation continues. For comparison, lithium-ion cells can reach about 285 Wh/kg, according to K. M. Abraham, a research professor at Northeastern University. Interestingly, the solution CATL also unveiled at the event is also expected to compensate for the reduced energy density of the sodium-ion cell, while preserving the advantage the cell makeup has to offer.
News of the new cell shot Tesla stock up over 4.6% in early trading hours on Thursday. At the time of writing, TSLA stock traded at $677.07, up $30.23.
Disclosure: Joey Klender is a TSLA Shareholder.
News
Tesla unveils charging innovation that will make the Semi instantly successful
The V4 cabinet Supercharger is an innovative solution that could very well make the Tesla Semi instantly successful.

Tesla North American Charging Director Max de Zegher recently shared some insights about the company’s V4 cabinet Superchargers, which are currently being deployed today.
As per the charging executive, the V4 cabinet does not only usher in a new era of fast charging for the company’s consumer vehicles. It is also an innovative solution that could very well make the Tesla Semi instantly successful when it starts being produced in meaningful volumes next year.
V4 cabinet Superchargers
In a recent post on X, the official Tesla Charging account announced that the first V4 cabinet Supercharger is now live. The V4 cabinet Supercharger paves the way for 0.5 MW and 3X power density, with two stalls per cabinet. Tesla Charging also noted that the V4 cabinet Supercharger offers higher throughput, higher efficiency, lower cost, and faster deployments.
In a follow-up post, de Zegher highlighted that the V4 cabinet is nothing short of a masterpiece. He also revealed that the technology used in the V4 cabinet Superchargers will enable 1.2 MW charging for the Semi.
“It might be odd to get so excited about a white box, but the V4 cabinet is a charging masterpiece: AC in, 16 trays of power electronics, DC out. This is the tech that will make 1.2MW charging for Semi, and 0.5 MW charging for cars, ubiquitous around the world,” de Zegher wrote in his post on X.
Tesla Semi ramp
The Tesla Semi has the potential to be the company’s most disruptive vehicle in its lineup. However, its success will likely be limited by how far the Class 8 all-electric long hauler could travel. With this in mind, it is pertinent for the Semi to have charging stops set up across the globe. Only then could it truly become a legitimate alternative to diesel long-haulers, including those engaged in cross-country routes.
If Tesla could successfully ramp the deployment of its V4 cabinet Superchargers, the company could all but ensure that the Semi is usable for ultra-long distance routes right out of the gate. That could effectively change the transportation game. The Tesla Charging executive seemed to hint as much in his X post, with de Zegher stating that the V4 cabinet Supercharger could be configured for 1.2 MW for the Semi.
When asked if every V4 cabinet Supercharger will have 1.2 MW with 8 stall support, the Tesla Charging executive noted that “1.2 MW config for Semi. For cars it can be configured as either 1.2 MW or 1 MW efficiently shared across 8 V4 post.”
News
Lucid CEO shades Tesla Model S: “Nothing has changed in 12 years now”
As per the interim CEO, Lucid is actually seeing quite a bit of business from former Tesla owners.

Lucid Motors’ interim CEO Marc Winterhoff recently shared some of his thoughts on rival EV maker Tesla, which is arguably the world’s undisputed leader in electric cars. As per the interim CEO, Lucid is actually seeing quite a bit of business from former Tesla owners.
Winterhoff noted that part of this is due to the Tesla Model S, which has gotten very long in the tooth.
Lucid CEO’s remarks
During his interview with the Financial Times, the Lucid interim CEO admitted that the company is climbing an uphill battle. He also discussed Uber’s increasing stake in Lucid, as well as the rid-hailing giant’s order for 20,000 units of the Lucid Gravity, a competitor to the Tesla Model X. The executive highlighted that Lucid’s next stage will hinge on the release of its affordable Model Y fighter as well, which should cost about $50,000.
Most interestingly, Winterhoff stated that Lucid is actually seeing a boost in sales from Tesla owners who have been turned off by the company’s aging lineup and Elon Musk’s political activities. “We have seen an uptick, that’s definitely the case, in Europe and also here in the US,” Winterhoff stated.
The Lucid interim CEO specifically pointed to the Model S as an example of Tesla’s aging lineup. As per the executive, the Model S age is one of the reasons why customers are looking for other options, like the Lucid Air. “The Model S, nothing has changed in 12 years now. . . (customers) are actively looking for other options,” he said.
Tesla Model S and Model X
In a way, the Tesla Model S and Model X are indeed long in the tooth, though Winterhoff’s comment about the all-electric sedan not changing for 12 years is inaccurate. The Model S received its Plaid upgrade in 2021, and it was refreshed earlier this year. While the car itself still has a similar body as its first iteration, practically everything under the hood and inside the cabin of the Model S has changed over the years.
That being said, sales of the Model S and Model X have fallen significantly since their peak. Thus, it would be a good idea for Tesla to put some effort and love into making its flagship sedan and SUV more attractive to consumers. For now, Tesla is putting in some effort into the two vehicles, as shown in the “Luxe” package it recently released for the Model S and Model X.
News
Elon Musk slams Sky News over Epstein invite: “Deserves complete contempt”
“Anyone pushing this false narrative deserves complete contempt,” Musk wrote.

Elon Musk has slammed media outlet Sky News for publishing a misleading headline surrounding an invitation he received from the late Jefferey Epstein, who is infamous for allegedly orchestrating a global trafficking ring.
Despite indicating in its article that Musk was just invited to the island, Sky News nevertheless ran with a headline saying that the CEO was “named” in the latest Epstein files release.
Sky News’ article
As could be seen in Sky News’ own article, which had a headline that read “Elon Musk and Prince Andrew named in latest Epstein files release,” Musk’s name came out on Epstein’s daily schedule back in 2014. “Reminder: Elon Musk to island Dec.6 (is this still happening?)” The entry read.
Sky News then provided some context on the entry: “They show Musk as a potential visitor to Epstein’s island, Little St James, on 6 December 2014 – six years after Epstein became a listed sex offender.”
Interestingly, while the latest release also named Prince Andrew, who does appear in Epstein’s flight logs, Sky News nonetheless opened its article by discussing Musk. It also used Musk’s photo as its featured image for its article.
Musk slams Sky News
Sky News’ framing of the story and its use of Elon Musk as a header image on its article did not escape X’s Community Notes, which proceeded to state that the CEO was only invited by the controversial figure. Interestingly enough, the media outlet also disabled replies to its post amid criticism from the social media platform’s users. Musk himself slammed Sky News for its misleading angle.
“Shame on Sky News for this utterly misleading headline. Anyone pushing this false narrative deserves complete contempt. Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED, yet they name me even before Prince Andrew, who did visit,” Musk wrote in a post on X.
Despite Musk’s comments and Sky News getting Community Noted, the media outlet’s story has been used as yet another piece of ammo by the CEO’s critics. As highlighted by broadcaster Mehdi Raza Hasan on X:
“Such a bad week for Musk – he spends years obsessing over pedophiles only for the NYT to accuse his dad of being one and him knowing about it, and now Epstein asking in a file if Musk was coming to visit him on the island. Sheesh,” Hasan wrote in a post.
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