{"id":30429,"date":"2022-08-30T11:04:15","date_gmt":"2022-08-30T15:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=30429"},"modified":"2022-08-30T11:04:15","modified_gmt":"2022-08-30T15:04:15","slug":"tesla-first-battery-cathode-factory-progress-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=30429","title":{"rendered":"\u200cHere\u2019s how Tesla\u2019s first battery cathode factory progress is going"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tesla has so many projects going on at the same time that i is often easy for one to be forgotten \u2013 like the fact that it is currently building a big battery cathode material factory in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>A new drone flyover shows that the building is coming together.<\/p>\n<p>Things move quickly in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>It was only back in February 2022 that we learned that <a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/2022\/02\/03\/tesla-applies-build-giant-new-cathode-factory-battery-production-gigafactory-texas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tesla applied for building permits on a new project called \u2018Project Cathode\u2019<\/a> next to Gigafactory Texas in Austin.<\/p>\n<p>Now a drone flyover of the Gigafactory Texas campus shows that the building that is going to house Tesla\u2019s battery cathode factory is already coming together.<\/p>\n<p>Joe Tegtmeyer, who regularly flies drones over Gigafactory Texas, flew over the new \u2018Project Cathode\u2019 building that is rising fast:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed alignwide is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<p>\n<iframe id=\"post-youtube-video\" title=\"Tesla Gigafactory Texas 26 August 2022 Cyber Truck &amp; Model Y Factory Construction Update (06:45AM)\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qBx7PbRezGA?start=901&amp;feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">[embedded content]<\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Obviously, it is not as big as the main Gigafactory Texas building, which is one of the biggest in the world, but it is quite a large building on 3 stories for its sole purpose of producing cathode battery material:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u200cHere\u2019s how Tesla\u2019s first battery cathode factory progress is going\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2136\" height=\"1114\" src=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1000\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-252958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg 2136w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=150,78 150w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=300,156 300w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=768,401 768w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=1024,534 1024w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=1536,801 1536w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=2048,1068 2048w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=350,183 350w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/08\/Screen-Shot-2022-08-30-at-5.57.15-AM.jpg?resize=1600,834 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2136px) 100vw, 2136px\"\/><\/figure>\n<p> Tesla originally announced plans to build its own \u201ccathode facility\u201d during its \u201cBattery Day\u201d presentation in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Drew Baglino, Senior Vice President of Engineering, said at the time:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\" readability=\"11\">\n<p>We\u2019re gonna go and start building our own cathode facility in North America and leveraging all of the North American resources that exist for nickel and lithium, and just doing that, just localizing our cathode supply chain and production, we can reduce miles traveled by all the materials that end up in the cathode by 80%.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>At Battery Day, Tesla unveiled a new cathode chemistry that allows for a much more simple and cheaper production.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery alignwide has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u200cHere\u2019s how Tesla\u2019s first battery cathode factory progress is going\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3566\" height=\"1766\" data-id=\"224164\" src=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-224164\" srcset=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg 3566w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=150,74 150w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=300,149 300w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=768,380 768w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=1024,507 1024w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=1536,761 1536w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=2048,1014 2048w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=350,173 350w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=1600,792 1600w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.21.28-PM.jpg?resize=290,145 290w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3566px) 100vw, 3566px\"\/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" title=\"\u200cHere\u2019s how Tesla\u2019s first battery cathode factory progress is going\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3584\" height=\"1772\" data-id=\"224165\" src=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?quality=82&amp;strip=all\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-224165\" srcset=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg 3584w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=150,74 150w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=300,148 300w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=768,380 768w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=1024,506 1024w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=1536,759 1536w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=2048,1013 2048w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=350,173 350w, https:\/\/electrek.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2022\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-04-at-5.24.12-PM.jpg?resize=1600,791 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3584px) 100vw, 3584px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<p>It was later revealed that <a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/2021\/05\/04\/tesla-snaps-up-battery-patent-startup-acquisition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tesla acquired the technology from a Canadian startup<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>In an update on its progress in producing its new 4680 battery cell last month, Te<\/p>\n<p>Tesla has since made moves to also secure lithium and nickel supply from North American sources, including deals with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/2021\/08\/02\/teslas-lithium-supply-delayed-north-carolina-project-falls-behind\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Piedmont Lithium<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/2022\/01\/10\/tesla-signs-deal-source-nickel-battery-production-upcoming-new-mine-us\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Talon Metals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>With the reform of the tax credit including new eligibility criteria that include both sourcing battery minerals and components in North America or in countries with free trade agreements with the US, Tesla would be in a great position by sourcing the minerals from those companies and producing its cathode at this new factory in Texas.<\/p>\n<p>The new facility makes more sense from a logistic standpoint since the cathode material will then go into battery cells produced next door, but it will also likely secure significant incentives for Tesla buyers.<\/p>\n<p>While this is Tesla\u2019s first cathode factory, the automaker is expected to invest in several more once it has managed to hone its new production process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad-disclaimer-container\" readability=\"6.3518518518519\">\n<p class=\"disclaimer-affiliate\"><em>FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.<\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/electrek.co\/about\/#affiliate\">More.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- post ad --><\/div>\n<hr\/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCcOIZzJgLCyMPILY7-1Vsdg?sub_confirmation=1\">Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos<\/a> and subscribe to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.electrek.co\/guides\/electrek-podcast\">podcast<\/a>.<!-- youtube embed --><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Recent Videos\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1DXOa0Kf-D0?playlist=wFmmgNotPvs,34b6I-QT3yA,EI-GBhyJgqA,Y762nr0603I,LROvW4UTwqU,t8texPyD3Co,-5Gln-1fPeE,vSMgQyvuqhk,33H1to7oDe4\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\">[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tesla has so many projects going on at the same time that i is often easy for one to be forgotten \u2013 like the fact that it is currently building a big battery cathode material factory in Texas. A new drone flyover shows that the building is coming together. Things move quickly in Texas. It [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8313,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30429","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-cars"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30429"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30429\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}