As per Jipian Lab, the large cylindrical batteries, which have been independently designed by NIO, are set to be contract manufactured by EVE Energy and Gotion High-Tech. A limited initial batch of cells is anticipated to come off the production line by the end of this year. NIO's venture into large cylindrical battery technology has been a long-term endeavor. In 2021, the company established a dedicated battery R&D team. The following year, during an earnings call, William Li, the CEO of NIO, disclosed that a substantial battery team comprising over 400 members had been assembled. Their mission was to develop and launch an 800V high-voltage platform battery pack, specifically the 4680 battery, slated for a 2024 release.
However, the project encountered hurdles, notably financial constraints, which led to the temporary suspension of the construction for the 40GWh production capacity at Phase I of NIO's Hefei Industrial Base. Despite these setbacks, NIO persevered and, at the close of 2023, unveiled its self-developed 46105 large cylindrical battery solution. This innovative solution supports a 900V high-voltage platform, boasts a cell energy density of 292Wh/kg, and offers a total pack capacity of 120kWh, enabling rapid 5C fast charging capabilities.
Notwithstanding its significant investment of over 2 billion yuan in battery R&D, NIO continues to grapple with the challenge of achieving large-scale mass production of large cylindrical batteries in the near term. This reflects the inherent complexities and capital-intensive nature of battery technology development, a common hurdle faced by many in the industry.