Commodity cell
Encyclopedia
Cell
s are individual cylindrical or rectangular energy storage devices inside a battery.
Commodity cells are the kind of cells used in laptop
s and cell phones, as the energy storage element in its batteries. Cells that can be used by electronics manufacturers like Dell Computer just as they can be used by car companies.
Tesla Motors uses commodity cells to make their automotive batteries. This is why Tesla’s battery is cheaper, higher capacity, more reliable, and more available than anything produced by USABC. It went into production for a fraction of the money previously spent by the consortium.
Practically all commodity cells today are made in Asia – mainly Japan, South Korea, and China. There is no significant production anywhere in the US. Even American battery companies – such as A123, Valence Technology
and AltairNano
– turn to Asia for mass production. A modern lithium ion cell plant – such as those in Japan – is a highly automated affair with very low labor content.
Electrochemical cell
An electrochemical cell is a device capable of either deriving electrical energy from chemical reactions, or facilitating chemical reactions through the introduction of electrical energy. A common example of an electrochemical cell is a standard 1.5-volt "battery"...
s are individual cylindrical or rectangular energy storage devices inside a battery.
Commodity cells are the kind of cells used in laptop
Laptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
s and cell phones, as the energy storage element in its batteries. Cells that can be used by electronics manufacturers like Dell Computer just as they can be used by car companies.
Production
The auto industry battery consortium, USABC, set about to invent automotive batteries made from specialty cells for cars.Tesla Motors uses commodity cells to make their automotive batteries. This is why Tesla’s battery is cheaper, higher capacity, more reliable, and more available than anything produced by USABC. It went into production for a fraction of the money previously spent by the consortium.
Practically all commodity cells today are made in Asia – mainly Japan, South Korea, and China. There is no significant production anywhere in the US. Even American battery companies – such as A123, Valence Technology
Valence Technology
Valence Technology, Inc. develops and manufactures advanced lithium iron phosphate cathode materials as well as programmable battery modules and trays. Valence's products are used in electric vehicle and Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles such as cars, scooters, motorbikes, commercial vehicles such...
and AltairNano
Altairnano
Altair Nanotechnologies is a Reno, Nevada-based research company that develops nanotechnology-based products for energy storage and the life sciences. In particular, the company is known for its "NanoSafe" lithium-ion battery technology that is used in battery-electric vehicles...
– turn to Asia for mass production. A modern lithium ion cell plant – such as those in Japan – is a highly automated affair with very low labor content.
External links
- Tesla Motors
- http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/hearing050107.htm