Tesla is understandably reticent about givimg away too many secrets of the Model S battery. That said, Elon Musk does make his patents open source within the electric vehicle industry. The batteries rest on the vehicle floor between the axles. As there is no central door pillar, Tesla claims to be able to exchange the pack in 90 seconds.
The Model S Battery Packs a Weighty Punch
The Model S battery weighs in at 1,200 pounds (540 kilograms). The casing is precision-built, and held down with what looks like a zillion screws and security bolts.
This makes discovering the secrets of the Model S battery a daunting task. What we do know is it comprises 16 modules wired in series, and contains a total 7,104 lithium-ion battery cells.
Each module houses 6 groups of 74 lithium-ion cells. The groups are wired together in series again, while the cylindrical cells themselves are in parallel.
Differences between Series and Parallel Connections
Connecting batteries in series means the positive of Battery 1 connects to the negative of Battery 2, and so on. The final voltage is the total of all the individual battery voltages.
The more the cells, the greater the voltage produced. With batteries wired in parallel, the positives join together to form a chain, as do the negatives.
The more the batteries, the greater the amp-hours, reserve capacity, and cranking performance. But the total voltage does not increment.
Unveiling the Inner Secrets of the Model S Battery
We came across an interesting video of a team of artisans stripping a Model S battery down. They did so because they wanted to re-purpose it for something else. This provides a rare opportunity to view the inner secrets of the Model S battery. We decided to share it with you, so you can see the secrets exposed before your eyes.
Related
Look Who’s Treading on Tesla Turf
Porsche Takes on Tesla with 600 Horses
Preview Image: Model S Tesla
