In 2008, BYD launched its first electric car, the F3-DM, which is also the first domestic new energy vehicle. In the same year, on the other side of the ocean, Tesla also launched its first car, the Roadster (the predecessor of the Model3). No one ever thought that the two companies that were humble at the beginning would subvert the global automotive industry pattern in the future. The circle often compares the Tesla 4680 battery with the BYD blade battery, what is the difference between the two?
Let’s talk about the common ground of the two: Tesla 4680 and BYD blade batteries are composed of positive electrode material, negative electrode material, electrolyte, diaphragm and packaging housing. At present, the positive electrode materials of new energy vehicle power batteries are mainly lithium iron phosphate and ternary lithium, the negative electrode materials are mainly graphite, and the rest of the composition is much the same. The industry’s research on lithium batteries is mainly focused on positive electrode materials.
1. Packaging process is different：
Byd blade battery adopts square laminated structure and rectangular metal shell package. The Tesla 4680 battery uses a large cylindrical packaging process.
2. Energy density：
The Tesla 4680 battery has a significant advantage in energy density . Its energy density is about 300Wh/kg, while the energy density of BYD blade batteries is about 140-150Wh/kg34. Although the 4680 battery has a higher energy density, due to its larger single volume, the number of batteries is reduced, and the improvement of vehicle life is not as significant as expected 2.
3. Different technical routes:
Byd blade batteries take the lithium iron phosphate technology route, the advantage of lithium iron phosphate is good safety, long life, but the energy density is not high. Tesla 4680 battery currently uses ternary lithium technology route, the main energy density is high.
4. Security:
Byd blade batteries excel in safety . Its unique “honeycomb” structural design helps distribute heat quickly, reducing the risk of thermal runaway. In the acupuncture test, the performance of the blade battery is particularly excellent, far better than the traditional battery, which provides a strong guarantee for the safety performance of new energy vehicles 1. In contrast, the Tesla 4680 battery, despite its “non-pole ear” design, did not perform as well in the needle test as the blade battery 2.
5. Cost:
The cost of BYD blade batteries is relatively low . Due to its use of lithium iron phosphate batteries and simple square battery packaging, the production cost is low .
In addition, blade batteries further reduce costs through modular structural design and efficient production processes, which makes the selling price of new energy vehicles more competitive .
6. Charging speed:
The Tesla 4680 battery excels when it comes to charging speed . Due to its “no pole ear” design, the battery heat is greatly reduced and the charging speed is significantly improved 2. Although the BYD blade battery supports high-power fast charging, it is not as fast as the 4680 battery 1.
