Tesla recently announced a significant new investment strategy for its Nevada Gigafactory, which will generate new 4680-type cylindrical battery cells and the Tesla Semi Class 8 semi truck.
Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo attended the event and was given a tour of the facility, which included a glimpse of the current Tesla Semi assembly line.
One of the most intriguing items is a new photo of a portion of the battery system (generally hidden under the cab).
Two versions of Tesla Semi: 300 miles and 500 miles ranges
Tesla plans to sell two versions of the Semi, one with 300 miles (483 km) and one with a range of 500 miles (805 km).
The Semi’s 500-mile version’s battery capacity is approximately between 850 and 900 kilowatt-hours (kWh) (based on energy consumption numbers). The official figure has yet to be released.
The recently developed battery system is intended for a “thousand-volt powertrain” and megawatt-level fast charging.
Tesla’s transition to 4680-type cylindrical battery cells
Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated during the Q3 2022 earnings call (via Teslarati) that the Tesla Semi does not utilize the 4680-type cylindrical battery cells.
The current version (in limited production) is outfitted with 2170-type cylindrical battery cells (manufactured on-site, as in the Tesla Model 3 and Tesla Model Y).
Nevertheless, the expectation for Tesla will transition to the 4680-type in the future (once they are widely available). At the very least, it would be sensible, given that the plant will create both Semi and 4680-type cells.
