Tesla Cybertruck hasn’t been officially launched yet. It missed yet another internal Launch Target of Q3 2023. But it looks like we will start soon seeing them on the road. Tesla Cybertruck Battery pack is already being discussed in various forums. Recent Q2 Earnings call gave us the term “Cybercell” aka 4680 Gen 2. In this article we will try to calculate the new 480 Gen 2 Battery energy and what various Tesla Cybertruck Models battery pack sizes will be based on the data available and the calculators from this site.
Tesla CYBERCELL aka 4680 Gen 2
As announced in 2020 Battery day the 4680 which has been in production at Tesla Texas gigafactory will be used in the Tesla Cybertruck. Youtube Video Link Tesla Battery Day 2020. Tesla produced the 20th Million cell recently at this site.
We have a detailed Benchmarking and analysis on Tesla 4680 on our Battery design website which is based on Limiting Factor Teardown. Based on Benchmarking below is the data for Tesla Gen 1 4680.
- Nominal Voltage: 3.7V
- Capacity: 23.35Ah at 2.5A discharge ~C/10
- Nominal Energy: 86.5Wh
- Mass: 0.355kg
- Cell gravimetric energy density = 244 Wh/kg
Cybertruck Cell “Cybercell” will be launching with Gen 2 4680 cells will have 10% Higher Cell Density. Tesla Gigafactory produced 20 Millionth 4680 in Oct 11 2023. Source: Tesla Earnings call Q2 2023. Start listening around 18th Minute for above statement reference to Cybercell.
- Nominal Voltage: 3.7V
- Capacity: 23.35Ah x 1.1 = 25.685Ah at 2.5A discharge ~C/10
- Nominal Energy ~95 Wh
- Mass: 0.355kg
- Cell gravimetric energy density = 268 Wh/kg
Cybertruck Models
Back in 2019 Tesla Announced three versions of the Cybertruck. Tesla Youtube. Update from Website 3rd Dec 2023
- Single Motor Rear Wheel Drive (RWD): 250 Miles or 402 km (2025 Launch Date)
- Dual Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD): 340 Miles or 547 km (more like +350 Miles or +560 km based on Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD). Range Extender – 470Miles
- Cyberbeast AKA Tri Motor All Wheel Drive (AWD): 320 Miles or 515 km (surprisingly not 500 miles but with range extender +440 Miles)
2019 Concept Launch
2023 Delivery Launch
Calculating Wh/km
We need various parameters to calculate Wh/km. I will use BatteryDesign.net calculator for this purpose. Link for the calculator (thanks Nigel).
- Vehicle Mass – 7000 Pounds (various sources says Tesla will have weight somewhere 7000 Pounds (3175 kg) but recent Munro Video says Tesla might be trying to reduce weight to reach under 6001 Pounds (2721 kg). This is to do with Tax purposes if vehicle mass (GVWR) is higher than 6001 Pounds and lower than 10000 Pounds then its classified as Light Duty truck. This maybe possible with Tesla Unibody construction with structural battery pack.)
- Update 3rd Dec. AWD – 6603 LBS, Cyberbeast – 6843 (without Range extenders)
- Vehicle Speed – 105 km/h or 65.5 Miles/h
- Cd Coefficient of Drag – 0.39 Source
- Frontal area – height * width * 85% (wheel free space) = 1.7907m*2.413m*0.85 =~3.6m2 (based on website 3rd Dec 2023)
- Coefficient of Rolling Resistance – 0.0196
The calculator has the default values of the CyberTruck entered and this then gives you the ability to modify the values and immediately see the impact on power demand and energy use:
Based on this we arrive at 381 Wh/km.
Calculating Battery Pack size and Configuration
- Single Motor RWD: 400km x 381 Wh/km divide by 1.25 (25% regeneration) = 121920 Wh or 122 kWh
- Dual Motor AWD: I went with 560 km x 381 Wh/km divide by 1.25 (25% regeneration) = 179688 Wh or 171 kWh
- Tri Motor AWD: 800 km x 381 Wh/km divide by 1.25 (25% regeneration) = 243840 Wh or 244 kWh
Going by Model 3 which uses 4680 based on our benchmarking article link uses 828 cells in 92 s 9 p configuration.
This Pack Sizing tool is a simple to use online calculator that allows you to modify values and instantly see the results.
Using above Cybercell Gen 2 4680 at 95 Wh Nominal energy and assuming same 340 V architecture.
Single Motor RWD: 122 kWh/95Wh = 1284 cells. If we use 340V or 92 s then it will be 1288 cells in configuration of 92 S 14 p. New Battery kWh = 122 kWh.
Dual Motor AWD: 171 kWh/95Wh = 1800 cells. If we use 340V or 92s then it be 1840 cells in configuration of 92 s 20 p. New Battery kWh = 175kWh.
Tri Motor AWD: 244 kWh/95Wh = 2567 cells. if we use 340 V or 92 S then it will be 2576 cells in configuration of 92 s 28 p. Ne Battery kWh = 245 kWh.
Using above Cybercell Gen 2 4680 at 95 Wh Nominal energy and assuming same 400 V architecture.
Single Motor RWD: 122 kWh/95Wh = 1284 cells. If we use 400V or 108 s then it will be 1296 cells in configuration of 108 S 12 p. New Battery kWh = 123 kWh.
Dual Motor AWD: 171 kWh/95Wh = 1800 cells. If we use 400V or 108s then it be 1836 cells in configuration of 108 s 17 p. New Battery kWh = 174kWh.
Tri Motor AWD: 244 kWh/95Wh = 2567 cells. if we use 400 V or 100 S then it will be 2592 cells in configuration of 108 s 24 p. Ne Battery kWh = 246 kWh.
This is a starter page for this vehicle model. Once we have production models out and some physical benchmarking done by Experts we can see where the calculations vs reality lies.