MC3OZ
Active Member
It costs BYD less than $100 kWh to make LFP cells.Is this price/kWh correct for LFP? I ask because this post, more than anything recently, makes me bullish on the near future of the energy market overall and by extension, Tesla Energy.
Storage cost has been the Achilles heel of renewables, for both good (and FUD-amplified) reasons for decades. Storage is needed to some extent, and storage has been painfully expensive per kWh stored.
For context, I have read a recent story about a local Montana community that passed ordinances to make wind power effectively illegal in their area - to be able to keep their money-losing coal plant open and its jobs around for the foreseeable future. That coal plant must be even more expensive than the NG combined cycle plants that ZachF quotes, given all we know about coal in general. As much as that story depressed me, this information about cheaper storage makes me believe these rearguard, anti-profit, anti-earth actions cannot stand for long. Yes local jobs are an issue, but yes, repurposing coal plants and installing wind power would create new jobs.
At least I hope they cannot stand. Fossil fuel interests are insinuated into local and state governments exceedingly deeply.
This makes me more bullish for Tesla Energy, and for those who follow me, I was already "bullish AF" since Elon listened to me and is going to flood the US market with high-desirability Model Y's* for the next year. Those Model Y's are just large enough to tempt the SUV-addled US customers into coming over to our side. Anyone else remember when this finally happened with the Prius? Eventually enough people knew someone with one that they became mainstream and a possible choice for all the non-engineering geeks.
With another million drivers giving all their friends rides and showing off the car's quiet intelligence, this anti-EV FUD loses more of its sting as its possible audience has real-world experience to fight it. And of course, with the war chest from those sales, Tesla sits even firmer in the catbird seat with new factory options for 2023. And all this is aside from the fact the Elon mentioned Tesla is chip constrained, NOT cell constrained. Fantastic for both cars and energy.
TL;DR: Was bullish for Model Y. Now bullish on Tesla Energy as well. Thank you @ZachF !!!
* I include Model 3's in this as well, but I think the Y has unique cachet for the US market and an even better profit margin. [grammar edit]
Raw materials for Nickel approx $25 kWh, LFP $8 KWh, LMNO $7.5 kWh.
The DBE process removes drying ovens reducing the amount of energy needed.
Energy itself is getting cheaper, and can be generated locally e.g. Austin.
A 250 Sq Km region of North West Western Australia could generate enough annual electricity to power the world.
Now what can Robots, mining, recycling and production machinery do with all that cheap energy?
What can hydroponics do?