The Tesla LFP Model 3 is quite a landmark battery pack for Tesla. Up until now everything has revolved around chasing the energy density of cylindrical cells from 18650 to 21700. The 4680 cylindrical is a move to a larger and lower cost cell. This move to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) is perhaps more significant and triggered by the success of BYD and their blade LFP based packs.
Note: this is the 1st generation of the Tesla CATL LFP pack BTF0.
Specifications
- Usable Energy = 49.8kWh (55kWhtotal)
- Usable window = 90%
- Nominal voltage = 339.2V
- Nominal capacity = 163.3Ah
Note that the cell appears to have a capacity of 161Ah.
- Configuration
- 106s 1p
- Pack mass = 438kg
- Cell mass 328.6kg
- Pack – Cell mass = 115kg
Metrics
- Energy density = 125Wh/kg
- Power density = 527W10s/kg
- Cell to pack mass ratio = 74%
The overall pack shape and breakdown into 4 modules is very similar to the 2170 based pack.
The weight optimisation of this battery pack is impressive.
Plotted here in the Battery Pack Database.
The pack has a quoted density of 125Wh/kg [3] and hence 55 x 1000 / 125 = 438kg.
This post has been built based on the support and sponsorship from: Eatron Technologies, About:Energy, AVANT Future Mobility, Quarto Technical Services and TAE Power Solutions.
Modules
- The pack is made up of 4 modules, 2 of each configuration:
- 2x outer modules of 25s1p
- 2x centre modules of 28s1p
Modules are arranged lengthwise in the pack with the cells stacked across the module (as per image)
The cooling plate is at the base of the prismatic cells and appears to have a coolant connection at each end.
Cells
Sandro Stock et al [1] have published a cell teardown and analysis. This gives an insight to the cell characteristics and design. The cell is made by CATL 161Ah BTF0.
Cell Specifications
- Chemistry = LFP
- Nominal = 3.2V
- Capacity = 161Ah
- Weight = 3.1kg
- Dimensions = 280 × 63 × 82mm
Jan Schöberl et [4]
Cell Metrics
- Energy density
- 166Wh/kg
- 356Wh/litre
References
- Sandro Stock, Jan Hagemeister, Sophie Grabmann, Johannes Kriegler, Josef Keilhofer, Manuel Ank, Jonas L.S. Dickmanns, Markus Schreiber, Fabian Konwitschny, Nikolaos Wassiliadis, Markus Lienkamp, Rüdiger Daub, Cell teardown and characterization of an automotive prismatic LFP battery, Electrochimica Acta, Volume 471, 2023
- Tesla Model 3 LFP Battery + Sandy Visits the ONE Facility, Youtube
- CATL to begin manufacturing third-gen batteries in 2023, electrive
- Jan Schöberl, Manuel Ank, Markus Schreiber, Nikolaos Wassiliadis, Markus Lienkamp, Thermal runaway propagation in automotive lithium-ion batteries with NMC-811 and LFP cathodes: Safety requirements and impact on system integration, eTransportation, Volume 19, 2024
See also: Lithium Iron Phosphate, Tesla, Blade Cells, Cell to Pack Mass Ratio by Chemistry and Format
While this article is from 2024, the 55 kWh generation only treats Gen1 of these cells, starting in the 2021 model year.
With model year 2022, Tesla made some changes with Gen 2 cells:
MY 2021: Gen1: Tesla Pack BTF0 : 55 kWh CATL 106s1p of 161-163 Ah.
MY 2022: Gen 2: Tesla Pack BTF1 : 60 kWh CATL 108s1p (2 cells more: 26s 28s 28s 26s) of 172.5 Ah cells each of same dimensions.
Gen2 teardown by a person looking for second life cells:
https://forums.automobile-propre.com/topic/les-caract%C3%A9ristiques-et-versions-des-tesla-model-3-et-y-7070/?&page=105
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/diypowerwalls/permalink/2017451641934720/?app=fbl
Gen2 cell itself: https://www.lazada.com.my/products/catl-32v-175ah-lithium-iron-phosphate-lifepo4-1-set-4-pcs-i3601849884-s20318705772.html
This Gen2 BTF1 pack is still found in MY2024 Model 3 “Highland”.
Still missing from this page: the Model Y Pack with BYD LFP cells: Tesla BT01. That started in May 2023 in Grünheide and is supposed to be a structural pack with heavy glue/foam and potentially BYD prismatic blade cells.
Thank you, must admit I find the updates difficult to track, your input is great