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Tesla Giga Shanghai may start production of Model 3 with CATL's M3P batteries. This should reduce the cost of car production, which is a key goal.

Tesla Giga Shanghai is set to release new Model 3s using the CATL M3P battery, according to Sina Tech, citing two people familiar with the case. This change will affect the entire line, which is a very interesting detail. It is reported that the new batteries will provide a range increase of at least 10%.

Currently, China-built Model 3s have lithium iron phosphate (LFP) CATL batteries with a range of 556 kilometers (345 miles) for the base version and 675 kilometers (420 miles) for the Performance variant. With the new battery packs, their range is expected to exceed 600 km (373 miles) and 700 km (435 miles), respectively, the report said. Keep in mind that this information is an unconfirmed rumor.

CATL M3P batteries are composed of the Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) material. At the end of July, CATL chief scientist, Wu Kai, during a presentation at the 2022 World EV & ES Battery Conference, said that the M3P battery is already in mass production and will be used in 2023. The M3P battery is a CATL battery based on a new material system that has a higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and a lower cost than ternary batteries, Wu said.

The M3P battery uses the olivine structure of LFP as the base lattice structure, replacing iron at some points by doping two of the metallic elements including magnesium, zinc, and aluminum, according to a recent research note by Shengang Securities. This design generates a ternary material in the phosphate system to improve charge/discharge capacity and cycle stability, according to the note.

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