The new battery innovation 4680 battery vs 18650 battery - which is better

With innovations in advanced technology and new devices being built, there has been a demand for more durable and efficient batteries to power these devices. Most importantly, battery applications on electric cars have been the main focus of big battery-dependent companies like Tesla and suppliers like Panasonic.

But Tesla recently announced a breakthrough in battery technology with the new 4780 battery pack, a new battery design that will revolutionize energy storage. The new battery comes in stack competition with older models and the 4680 battery vs 18650 is one major comparison that is being made today.

We have compared 21700 battery vs 18650 and 18650 vs 14500 batteries in the mainstream battery model 18650. In this article, we’ll take a look at some major contracts with 4680 battery vs 18650 battery and come to a clear conclusion on which battery offers the best performance.

What is a 4680 battery

The 4680 battery is a new lithium battery cell design by Tesla which offers a tabless cell that can hold 5 times the energy capacity of a standard 18650 battery and produce up to 6 times the power. According to Tesla, a 4680 battery vs 18650 offers more than 16 percent more range enabling the battery to supply more power and run for longer periods.

The larger capacity of the 4680 battery will enable Tesla to install a smaller number of cells supplying the same power and range but at a much-reduced cost when comparing the 4680 battery vs 18650.

What does 4680 mean

This name refers to the dimensions of the battery which is how most batteries of the same category are named. The 46 refers to the diameter of the battery which is 46 millimeters and the 80 denotes the length of the battery which is 80 millimeters. In contrasting a 4680 battery vs 18650, both batteries have the same naming pattern. This is done for simplicity in differentiating each battery by its size and dimensions.

Application of the 4680 battery

The current application of 4680 batteries is focused on electric cars as Tesla is mainly developing the 4680 battery to be in service for their lineup of cars.

Comparing 4680 battery vs 18650, 4680 batteries only have a single application for now while 18650 are used in a wide range of lithium battery applications such as in power tools, vapes, and other battery-powered appliances. 4680 batteries will see as the primary battery pack for Tesla’s next launch of cars with the Model Y being the first to revive these batteries.

What is the 18650 battery

A 18650 is a lithium-ion battery cell that is larger than AA batteries and finds application in a wide range of electronic devices. These batteries measure 18mm by 65mm and are capable of making them smaller compared to 4680 battery vs 18650. Each 18750 battery cell has a nominal voltage between 3.2 – 3 7 volts and can have a capacity up to 3500mAh.

Comparing 4680 battery vs 18650, the latter has been in use for much longer and is currently in use in most portable electronics and high power tools. These batteries are considered “high drain” batteries as they are capable of generating high output voltage to measure up the demand of the appliance in use.

What does 18650 mean

Much like we’ve established for 4680 battery vs 18650, the latter also gets its designated name from the dimensions of the battery cell pack. The 18 is derived from the diameter of the battery pack which is 18 millimeter and also the 65 connotes the length of the battery which is obviously 65 millimeters.

Application of the 18650 battery

In stack contrast to the 4680 battery vs 18650, these batteries have seen a wider application and usage than their 4680 counterparts.

The 18650 Battery cell type is used in most portable devices such as laptops, computers, portable power banks, LED flashlights, phones, and tablets. But also, much like 4680 battery vs 18650, 18650 batteries are used in bigger battery-based applications like in electric cars, electric motorcycles, scooters, and quadbikes.

Are 4680 battery vs 18650 lithium

Irrespective of the major differences between a 4680 battery vs 18650, one of the common features between both batteries is that they are lithium ion batteries. Lithium batteries have been the most recommended battery type for energy-intensive applications like electric vehicles, portable devices, power tools and other high-energy devices.

This is mainly because a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery are both used in applications where the battery needs to be recharged hundreds or thousands of times, need to be stable and reliable and can last for years before needing to be replaced.

Pros and cons of 4680 battery vs 18650

Although both batteries function in similar applications and have similar features, there are some advantages and disadvantages on using either 4680 battery vs 18650.

Advantage of 4680 battery

●There is reduced cost of manufacturing a 4680 battery, this is because each 4680 cell has a bigger capacity but the same energy is needed to manufacture more battery cells as opposed to 18650 battery.

●The 18650 battery has a large capacity which enables it to store enough energy to supply consistently over a period.

●The energy density and capacity of a 4680 battery are much larger and can supply more energy for a longer period.

●There is a considerable reduction in electrical resistance within the cell of a 4680 battery which results in less heat build-up and reduced chances of overheating when in use.

●There is a faster charge rate with a 4680 battery as each cell has less internal resistance and can build up and store electrons a lot faster and supply energy equally as fast.

Disadvantage of 4680 battery

●For now, there is a limited capacity in mass producing enough 4680 batteries. Currently, only Tesla produces the 4860 battery to be used in the launch of the Model Y electric car. Other battery manufacturing companies are still at least a year away from beginning mass production of the 4680 battery. Regarding Other leading battery manufacturers, you can read the article about the 4680 battery industry pattern, which not only compares 4680 batteries with 18650 and 21700, but also talks about which companies are currently deploying 4680 batteries.

Advantage of 18650 battery

● The 18650 battery has a relatively large capacity usually between 1200mAh – 3600mAh.

●These batteries also have a long battery cycle life reaching up to 4000 cycles which is considerably higher than that of regular batteries.

●18650 batteries are regarded as high-performance batteries with a high level of safety when in use. They are non-toxic, have thermal resistance, reduced chances of short circuits and malfunctions. In a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery comparison, 18650 would make for an excellent alternative.
●These batteries also have no memory effect, low internal resistance, and high voltages ranging between 3.2V, 3.6V, 3.65V and 3.7V.

Disadvantage of 18650 battery

●One major drawback of the 18650 battery is that it has a relatively fixed volume and capacity. For years 18650 has been used in a fair but limited capacity which when comparing 4680 battery vs 18650, 4680 batteries offer a much larger capacity and energy volume.

Different performance between 4680 battery vs 18650

Size

In terms of size, 4680 battery vs 18650, 4680 battery has a (46mm x 80mm) dimension while an 18650 battery has a (18mm x 65mm) dimension.

Voltage and capacity

Comparing a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery, both batteries have relatively high nominal voltages, usually between 3.2 – 3.7V for 18660 and 3.7V for 4680 batteries. Also, 8650 batteries have a capacity reaching 5000mAh but 4680 batteries are rated to have up to an estimated 8000mAh battery capacity.

Cycle life

The cycle life of a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery is considerably different with a 18650 battery having between 1500 – 4000 charge and discharge cycles while a 4680 battery has between 1000 – 2000 cycles depending on the nature of charging.

Due to the fact that 4680 batteries are currently only used in electric vehicles, they can be categorized as ternary lithium batteries and hence, have a relatively short cycle life. On the other hand, 18650 batteries can either be ternary or lithium iron phosphate, so the battery cycle life can reach a maximum of 4000 cycles.

Performance

Since the cell capacity of a 4680 battery is 5 times higher than previous battery models, it has a higher peak performance level. In comparing a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery, 18650 battery needs about 7000 cells is a standard electric car but a 4680 battery only needs about 1000 cells to provide the same capacity.

Which is better-4680 battery vs 18650

Although 4680 batteries are yet t be mass-produced for commercial use, it is rated that they have a larger capacity, energy density, charge cycle, and overall performance compared to 18650 batteries. In comparing 4680 battery vs 18650 battery, the 4680 battery takes the lead in automotive applications but 18650 batteries are superior in broader applications due to a history of improved adaptability, better manufacturing process and standardized process.

FAQs

Are 4680 batteries in production

Tesla is credited with developing the 4680 battery and is currently the only company producing them to be used in their next line of cars. In comparing the production level of 4680 battery vs 18650, 4680 batteries will not be mass-produced until at least 2023 and will only be found in Tesla cars for the time being.

When can i buy 4680 battery

Tesla currently doesn’t have 4680 batteries for sale and is only making them available in their cars. The batteries will be made available for sale commercially when they are mass-produce by companies like Panasonic which has announced it will begin production sometime in 2023.

Do you need a special charger for 4680 battery vs 18650 battery

Much like an 18650 battery, a 4680 battery can be charged using a normal lithium battery charger. But since they are yet to be made available for commercial use and are only present in Tesla cars, a good level 2 or 3 charger is recommended to be used when charging a 4680 battery inside an electric car.

How much do new tesla 4680 batteries cost

Due to the fact that 4680 batteries are not currently available for sale commercially, there is no price tag attached to them for now. But in comparing 4680 battery vs 18650 battery, we can expect at least a 30% reduction in price due to the low cost of production with prices estimated at $100 per kWh or lower.

How long does 4680 battery vs 18650 last

The rate at which a 4680 battery will last while in use is yet to be determined but estimated from Tesla’s prototype tests reveal that the battery will have up to 16% more range than previous batteries. So when comparing a 4680 battery vs 18650 battery, the former will last a lot longer in performance.