Tesla quietly revealed in its Q1 report that nearly half the vehicles it produced in the first quarter of 2022 were equipped with cobalt-free lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. The news, however, was overshadowed in the news cycle, particularly by Tesla’s $19 billion revenue and CEO Elon Musk’s acquisition of social media platform Twitter.
LFP batteries are not a new innovation, but it has not been used as much in areas outside China. According to data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), only 3% of electric vehicle batteries in the United States and Canada and 6% in the European Union are iron-based. In China, however, LFP batteries command 44% of the EV market.
Tesla currently uses LFP batteries in its base vehicles, though Elon Musk has hinted that the EV company will be using more cobalt-free cells in more products. Considering the prolific nature of Tesla and its influence on the market, it would not be surprising if other EV makers also began exploring the option of using LFP batteries for their own cars.
Amusingly enough, by playing a notable part in LFP battery adoption, it appears that Elon Musk has effectively become an “iron man” of sorts.
According to a Reuters review of the EV market, Tesla is not alone in its support for LFP batteries. Over a dozen companies are reportedly considering building LFP battery cell plants in the United States and Europe in the next three years. And things will likely only pick up from there. Mujeeb Ijaz, the founder of US battery startup Our Next Energy, noted that LFP has a future in the EV industry.
“I think lithium iron phosphate has a new life. It has a clear and long-term advantage for the electric vehicle industry,” he said.
There was a reason why LFP batteries took this long to gain ground. While LFP cells use cheaper materials, and while they could be consistently charged fully without much degradation, they tend to be larger, heavier, and generally hold less energy than nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cells. Thus, electric cars that use LFP batteries tend to have shorter range.
Tesla’s decision to use LFP batteries for its base vehicles could be considered a strategic move. Since the company is electively the undisputed leader in the electric vehicle sector, the roughly 150,000 cars it produced last quarter that were equipped with LFP batteries took a number of analysts and specialists by surprise. And similar to other innovations from the company, such as its use of megacasts, it appears that other carmakers will soon be following suit.
EV startup Fisker, for one, noted that it is planning on using LFP batteries for its lower-range SUVs. CEO Henrik Fisker noted that the company is in discussions with battery suppliers from the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Fisker noted that LFP batteries are perfect for vehicles that are used by city-dwellers.
“If I never leave Los Angeles, I never leave San Francisco, I never leave London … I think that’s where LFP comes in really well,” he said.
Audi CEO Markus Duesmann, in comments that were shared last March, also spoke highly of LFP cells’ potential. “It may well be that we will see LFP in a larger portion of the fleet in the medium term. After the war, a new situation will emerge; we will adapt to that and choose battery technologies and specifications accordingly,” he said.
Even BMW, which is arguably lagging in the electric vehicle race considering the pace of rivals such as Volkswagen and Daimler, is looking towards LFP batteries. Recent comments from BMW chief procurement officer Joachim Post indicated that the German automaker was analyzing the merits of iron-based cells. “We’re looking at different technologies to minimize the use of resources and also we’re looking at optimizing chemistry,” the executive said.
*Quotes courtesy of Reuters.
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Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
Tesla’s upcoming Model Y L has been spotted on transport trucks in Australia. Sightings of the six-seat extended wheelbase Model Y variant have been reported on social media platform X by members of the Australian Tesla community.
One of the sightings was reported along Victoria Parade in Melbourne, and it showed multiple Model Y L vehicles on a transport carrier.
The sighting follows earlier observations by Tesla enthusiasts in Sydney, where a covered vehicle believed to be a Model Y L was spotted at a Supercharger.
The Sydney sighting drew attention after observers noted that the vehicle’s tare weight appeared to match the ADR approval listing for the Model Y L, suggesting it could indeed be the extended wheelbase variant of the electric SUV.
Tesla has previously confirmed that the Model Y L will launch in Australia and New Zealand in 2026. The confirmation was reported by techAU following a media release from Tesla Australia and New Zealand.
The Model Y L expands the existing Model Y lineup with seating for six passengers. The vehicle features a longer body compared with the standard Model Y in order to accommodate a spacious second and third row.
Tesla has opted for a 2-2-2 seating configuration instead of a traditional seven-seat layout for the Model Y L. The design includes two individual seats in the middle row to provide easier access to the third row and additional passenger space.
Tesla Australia and New Zealand has also stated that the Model Y L will be covered under the company’s updated warranty structure beginning in 2026.
Tesla has not yet announced pricing or official range figures for the Model Y L in Australia.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
X Money is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Elon Musk has stated that X Money, the digital payments system being developed for social media platform X, is expected to enter early public access next month.
The update was shared by Musk in a post on X. “𝕏 Money early public access will launch next month,” Musk wrote in his post.
As noted in a Reuters report, X Money is being developed as a digital payment service that’s directly integrated into the X platform.
The system is expected to enable financial transactions within the app, expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond social media features.
Musk has previously discussed plans to introduce payments and financial services as part of X’s broader development.
Since acquiring the platform in 2022, Musk has discussed expanding X to include a range of services such as messaging, media, and financial tools.
Elon Musk has shared his goal of transforming X into an “everything app.” During a previous podcast interview with members of the Tesla community, Musk mused about turning X into something similar to China’s WeChat, which allows users to shop, pay, communicate, and perform a variety of other tasks.
“In China, you do everything in WeChat… it’s kickass… Outside of China, there’s nothing like it, people live on one app. My idea would be like how about if we just copy WeChat,” Musk joked at the time.
To prepare for the rollout of X Money, X has partnered with payment company Visa to support the development of payment services for the platform’s users. The move could allow X to tap into the growing demand for digital and in-app financial transactions as the company builds additional services around its existing user base.
News
Tesla Cybercab display highlights interior wizardry in the small two-seater
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
The Tesla Cybercab is currently on display at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., and observations of the production vehicle are highlighting some of its notable design details.
Photos and videos of the production Cybercab were shared in posts on social media platform X.
Observers of the Cybercab display unit noted that the two-seat Robotaxi provides unusually generous legroom for a vehicle of its size. Based on the vehicle’s video, the compact two-seater appears to offer more legroom than Tesla’s larger vehicles such as the Model Y, Model X, and Cybertruck.
The Cybercab’s layout allows Tesla to dedicate nearly the entire cabin to passengers. The vehicle is designed without a steering wheel or pedals, which helps maximize interior space.
Footage from the display also highlights the Cybercab’s large center screen, which is positioned prominently in front of the passenger bench. The display appears intended to provide entertainment and ride information while the vehicle operates autonomously.
Images of the vehicle also show an additional camera integrated into the Cybercab’s C-pillar. The extra camera appears to expand the vehicle’s field of view, which would be useful as Tesla works toward fully unsupervised Full Self-Driving.
Tesla engineers have previously explained that the Cybercab was designed to be highly efficient both in manufacturing and in operation. Cybercab Lead Engineer Eric E. stated in 2024 that the Robotaxi would be built with roughly half the number of parts used in a Model 3 sedan.
“Two seats unlocks a lot of opportunity aerodynamically. It also means we cut the part count of Cybercab down by a substantial margin. We’re gonna be delivering a car that has roughly half the parts of Model 3 today,” the Tesla engineer said.
The Tesla engineer also noted that the Cybercab’s cargo area can accommodate multiple golf bags, two carry-on suitcases, and two full-size checked bags. The trunk can also fit certain bicycles and a foldable wheelchair depending on size, which is quite impressive for a small car like the Cybercab.
Tesla Model Y L spotted on transport trucks in Australia
Elon Musk shares timeframe for X Money early public access rollout
