--- title: "World’s Largest Battery Maker Says Elon Musk ‘Doesn’t Know How To Make Batteries’" date: "2024-11-16" modified: "2024-11-16" authors: - name: "Beverly Braga" job_title: "Weekend Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/beverly-braga" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/worlds-largest-battery-maker-says-elon-musk-doesnt-know-how-to-make-batteries" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Tesla News" tags: - "Battery Tech" - "Electric Vehicle" - "Elon Musk" --- # World’s Largest Battery Maker Says Elon Musk ‘Doesn’t Know How To Make Batteries’ ![]() *\Samuel Corum/Getty Images\* Friendly foes or business partners agreeing to disagree? Maybe it's a bit of both for [EV battery]() maker CATL and EV manufacturer [Tesla](). CATL founder and chairman Robin Zeng apparently told [Tesla]() CEO Elon Musk that he basically sucks at making batteries. Musk's reply: silence. Musk not having a rebuttal or the last word in any conversation (even ones with only himself) sounds like a *Twilight Zone* episode. But that's what Zeng says happened in an interview with [*Reuters*](). The topic was specifically about Tesla's cylindrical battery, known as the [4680](). According to [*Gizmodo*](), back in 2020, Musk boasted that the in-house designed 4680 would be cheaper to produce by 10 to 20 percent and increase capacity fivefold. Unlike Musk's myriad of unfulfilled promises ([Tesla Roadster](), anyone?), the 4680 battery does exist. However, instead of bringing [Tesla prices]() down, which Musk does on his own based on moon phases or whatever, the 4680 is currently used in the [Cybertruck]() and some variants of the [Model Y](). Ah, so the cheaper battery is in Tesla's most expensive vehicle. Cue Alanis. The 4680 "is going to fail and never be successful," Zeng told Musk. “We had a very big debate, and I showed him,” said Zeng. “He was silent. He doesn’t know how to make a battery. It’s about electrochemistry. He’s good for the chips, the software, the hardware, the mechanical things.” This coming from CATL, which produces low-cost lithium phosphate batteries for Chinese-market Tesla vehicles. CATL also has a [similar licensing deal]() with [Ford]() in the U.S. for the [Mustang Mach-E]() and [F-150]() Lightning. Zeng added that he also questioned Musk about his incessant "overpromising" and unrealistic timelines for every product and project. Musk told Zeng that his goal was motivation (e.g., false hope) for Tesla employees because anything longer than a two-year time frame was the equivalent of "infinity." "Maybe something needs five years, but he says two years," said Zeng. I definitely asked him why. He told me he wanted to push people." So, you might as well [build your own Roadster]() if the production wait is already beyond infinity. As for the 4680, although in production, it's not without fault. *Gizmodo* refers to a report by *[The Information]()* that says Musk has pushed engineers to reduce the battery's cost further as production is slated to ramp up. A dry-coated version of the battery cells is also in the works and slated for the Cybertruck next year. However, [Tesla loses]()[ ]()[70 to 80 percent of the cathodes]() in test production. Conventional battery makers, by comparison, lose less than 2 percent of components because of manufacturing defects. Another technical issue is that the batteries collapse on themselves when in use. So far, though, the 4680 contributed to the [Cybertruck's 2024 recall count](), which currently stands at six. Nevertheless, Musk said four new versions of the 4680 will be available by 2026, one of which will power the [Cybercab robotaxi](). "He probably himself thinks it needs five years, but if you believe him when he says two years, you will be in big trouble," said Zeng, without mentioning any specific vehicle or promise. ## Author Born and raised in Hawaii, Beverly has been a prolific and published creative writer since her teens. As a contributor to The Drive, Beverly covers the weekend shift, blogging about all things automotive, mobility, transportation, and topics in-between. Currently a digital nomad, Beverly's only constant is her car, a second-generation Mazdaspeed3. Even though she's never in one place for too long, her hot hatch always feels like home. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()