LG Energy Solution has formed a new team dedicated to developing 4680 batteries, a standard widely used by electric vehicle giant Tesla.
The team is called New Form Factor Task and is based at the South Korean company’s plant in Ochang, South Korea.
The NFF Task is led by vice president Ryu Deok-hyun and has a staff of around 200 people sources said.
The team is based at the Toray building close to LG Energy Solution’s Ochang plant.
NFF Task reports to the head of small battery and development head executive vice president Roh Seh-won.
LG Energy Solution has been spending 580 billion won since June last year to build a mother line for new cylindrical batteries.
While Tesla is manufacturing 4680 batteries at its factories in Fremont, California and Austin, Texas, the volume is small.
Currently, batteries made using the form factor has a lower energy density than 2170 batteries per kg.
NFF Task, besides 4680 batteries, was also developing 4695 (46 diameters, 95 lengths) batteries, sources said.
The increase in length could make it more convenient for the battery maker and there were likely requests from customers to develop the specification, they added.
NFF was also bringing in winding machines from Koem and Zhejiang Hangke to reverse engineer them.
