Tesla Motors Corporation and Panasonic Corporation January 8, 2010, announced the joint development of next-generation electric vehicle with lithium-ion battery technology, Tesla Motors will use Panasonic’s battery, which is characterized by a heap in the latest use of nickel-based batteries Lithium-ion chemistry.
In December 2009, Panasonic has developed two new models 18650 - pattern (18 mm diameter, 65 mm height) high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. The newly developed high-capacity 3.4 Ah and 4.0 Ah lithium-ion batteries with improved nickel-based cathode (Panasonic’s proprietary cathode material based on LiNiO2, have a high capacity and durability). 4.0 Ah battery anode preclude the use of silicon-based alloys instead of carbon, the volume energy density of 800 Wh / L, are used in 2.9 Ah batteries 620 Wh / L.