Rahul SomvanshiTesla has revealed a substantial new investment scheme for its Nevada Gigafactory, which will produce the latest 4680-type cylindrical battery cells and the Tesla Semi Class 8 semi-truck. The governor of Nevada, Joe Lombardo, was in attendance and had the opportunity to visit the facility and inspect the assembly line for the Tesla Semi.
An intriguing new image has emerged that provides a glimpse of the battery system, which is typically concealed beneath the cab. The photograph showcases large black boxes containing batteries, with nine visible in total as per previous technical images. Additionally, high-voltage orange cables and other lines for other systems are also visible in the image.
Tesla plans to release two variations of its Semi truck, one with a range of 300 miles (483 km) and the other with a range of 500 miles (805 km). The 500-mile variant is believed to feature a battery capacity of approximately 850-900 kilowatt-hours (kWh), although the company has yet to disclose the official capacity. The new battery system is engineered for a “thousand volt powertrain” and the capability for megawatt-level fast charging.
During Tesla’s Q3 2022 earnings call, CEO Elon Musk stated that the current version of the Tesla Semi does not utilize the 4680-type cylindrical battery cells. It is speculated that the current limited production version is fitted with 2170-type cylindrical battery cells, similar to those found in the Model 3 and Model Y. However, it is expected that in the future, when they become more widely available, Tesla will switch to the 4680-type, especially given that both the Semi and the 4680-type cells will be manufactured at the Nevada Gigafactory. It is possible that the inside of the Tesla Semi battery system will be revealed if Munro & Associates is successful in its crowdfunding campaign to purchase a vehicle for teardown analysis.
