Simon Alvaraz of Teslarati finally got his hands on a 2170 Model 3 battery cell on February 12, 2018. Being a techy type, he was unable to resist ripping it apart right away. That paid to its future usefulness as Tesla used a robust design. That said, at least we now know more about the design of model 3 battery cells
Disassembling the 2170 Model 3 Battery
Before we start, PLEASE DO NOT attempt to do this yourself at home because the technology is dangerous. Simon Alvaraz first completely drained the cell with a resistor. Next, he sliced away the positive terminal cover to reveal a plastic insulator preventing the interior jellyroll from short-circuiting the metal case.
The jellyroll also had an extra layer of insulation, to keep the metal case cool if a thermal runaway occurs inside. Finally, Tesla added three tiny cooling holes at the top of the 2170 Model 3 battery, to allow gases to vent if all other strategies failed. Here is a neat video that describes what we believe is a minor engineering masterpiece.
Removing the layer of insulation revealed a copper sheet wrapped around the jellyroll. This acts as a ground for the battery completing the circuit. When Simon opened the jellyroll, he found it contained lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum oxide powder between the layers.
This oxide is where the 2170 Model 3 battery cell stores its electricity. The jellyroll was 32-inches long when fully opened out. This is a third longer than the 18650 version and slightly thicker. Thus, the Model 3 battery appears to be a third denser than its predecessor, justifying Tesla’s earlier claim.
The 2170 battery also goes into Power Packs and Powerwalls. PLEASE DO NOT attempt this experiment yourself. Everything you might find if you were careless enough to do so, is already in the video. You will learn nothing new.
Related
Teslas New 2170 Battery Cell More Insights
Preview Image: Model X and 3 Unveiling
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/_uKpn3zflBE
