Under Tesla's "phenomenal effect", the cylindrical battery technology, which had not performed well in the electric vehicle market before, has received widespread attention since 2020. Of course, this has to be attributed to the successful R&D and mass production of the 4680 large cylindrical battery. Compared with the 2170 cylindrical battery, the 4680 cylindrical battery has 5 times the energy, 6 times the output power, 16% extra battery life, and the battery cost will be reduced by 14%. Many advantages have to make the 4680 very eye-catching.

BAK, Yiwei Lithium Energy, Lishen, Honeycomb Energy, Panasonic, LG and other battery companies are actively following up on large cylindrical batteries including 4680. With the participation of more companies on both sides of the supply and demand, the large cylindrical battery has entered the stage of industrialization, and it seems that it is only a "step" to break through the mainstream technology, and many companies in the industry are sure that the large cylindrical battery will become a very important next-generation battery. one of the technologies.

The global head battery companies not only gave reasons for their firm optimism about large cylindrical batteries, but also handed over phased "answer sheets" for large cylindrical batteries.

"The large cylindrical battery is the optimal solution for mid-to-high-end electric vehicles in the next 5-10 years." This is the judgment of Fan Wenguang, vice president of BAK Battery, on March 27. The confidence in the large cylindrical battery comes from its three characteristics:

First, in terms of product performance, among the current mainstream battery forms, the large cylindrical battery is the safest. The high safety upper limit allows the battery to support higher energy density chemical systems and better match high-voltage fast charging technology.

Second, in terms of battery management, the large cylindrical battery cell is small in size, which is convenient for thermal management, and can flexibly use the special-shaped space. The highly standardized form is conducive to platformization and iteration.

Third, it is easier to realize industrialization. Cylindrical batteries have a long history of development, and have achieved relatively uniform standards in the industry so far. At the same time, the automation level of battery production is also higher than other types of batteries, thus ensuring the high efficiency of cylindrical battery production and the consistency of monomers. Sex, on the other hand, also reduces production costs.

Liu Jincheng, chairman of Yiwei Lithium Energy, said that he is very optimistic about the prospects of large cylindrical batteries. "At present, cylindrical batteries and large cylindrical batteries have become the 'king of the industry', and the 46 series of batteries have outstanding safety and economy. And it does not deform during use, it's 'slim and cute', and it is becoming one of the ultimate technical directions for power batteries."
"Safety and economy are the current focus of power batteries." The large cylindrical battery has absolute safety and cost advantages and will become one of the ultimate power battery technologies. He even described it as "four extremes":large cylindrical batteryOne is the ultimate standard, with standardization of battery design, manufacturing, and recycling.

Second, it is extremely reliable. The large cylindrical battery has a stable structure, zero stress in the whole life cycle, and no deformation of the full size.

The third is extreme manufacturing, the process is shortened by 30%, and the production efficiency of GWh is higher.

The fourth is the ultimate system. The large cylindrical battery achieves the ultimate chemical system with a nickel content of 90% and carbon silicon.

By 2025, the global electric vehicle sales will exceed 20 million, and the corresponding power battery demand will exceed 1600GWh. Looking forward to the large cylindrical battery market, according to the customer demand that BAK Battery has received, combined with industry information, the market share of large cylindrical batteries is expected to gradually exceed 30% in the next few years.

Obviously, the door to the blue ocean market has been opened, and industrialization has become the key.

The layout of large cylindrical batteries by electric vehicle companies has roughly formed a three-level echelon: the first echelon is on the eve of mass production, represented by Tesla, and is expected to be officially loaded and put on the market in 2023; the second echelon is in the process of substantive project approval In the research and development stage, it is expected to be mass-produced and installed around 2025; the third echelon is in the stage of information collection, market research and feasibility assessment. At present, most electric car companies are in the second and third echelons. In the next 5-10 years, many large electric vehicle companies have finalized the layout of using ternary + silicon large cylindrical batteries for mid-to-high-end models, and the use of square shell or blade lithium iron phosphate batteries for economical models.

Driven by the implementation of industrialization, advanced technologies such as electrodeless ears, mature welding, and energy density improvement have been reflected in large cylindrical battery products, and the production capacity construction of enterprises has been accelerated.

According to reports, the representative product of the large cylindrical battery, the height range can reach 80-120mm, the energy density is from 275Wh/kg to 300Wh/kg, and it only takes 15 minutes to fast charge to 80% of the capacity. Some customized products have already achieved fast charging. Charge to 80% capacity within 9 minutes.
The representative director of Matsushita Electric Group, Kusumi Yu, stated that three power battery factories located in Suminoe, Kaizuka, and Nevada in the United States are producing cylindrical batteries. He also said that 4680 large cylindrical batteries will become the main force of cylindrical batteries in the future. Continue to strengthen the advantages of battery capacity, cost and supply power to form its own competitiveness.

Previously, Panasonic has announced that its 4680 large cylindrical battery developed for Tesla will be trial-produced in April this year, and is expected to accelerate its loading. At the same time, Tesla has also "personally entered the battle". After announcing the successful mass production of its 1 millionth 4680 large cylindrical battery, it also announced that the 4680 battery yield rate of 14 trial production lines at Tesla's Fremont factory reached 92%. %.

LG New Energy said in March last year that it has also started building a pilot production line for 4680 large cylindrical batteries, renovating part of the production line at its Ochang factory, and plans to start mass production by 2023 to supply the Tesla factory.

Under the demand of high-end car companies such as Tesla and Porsche, the large cylindrical battery route may attract more electric car companies and battery companies to enter. Most of the top domestic battery companies have relevant technical reserves, and some companies such as BAK Battery and Yiwei Lithium Energy have shown first-mover advantages. The large cylindrical battery has entered the "dark battle" on the eve of mass production, and 2022 will be the key time node for its mass production. This year, can the large cylindrical battery stand out from the three mainstream technical routes, and the mass production and loading will be "out of the circle" ? It is worth looking forward to.