Tesla Is Missing The Massless EV Battery Boat

The article discusses the emerging trend of cell-to-body battery architecture in electric vehicles (EVs), highlighting how companies like BYD and Volvo are pioneering this technology while Tesla lags behind. Cell-to-body design integrates battery cells directly into the vehicle’s chassis, eliminating the need for traditional battery packs. This innovation reduces vehicle weight, cuts costs, frees up space, and simplifies assembly, leading to improved EV performance and efficiency. BYD, a Chinese automaker, has been an early and rapid adopter of this approach, contributing to its rising EV sales in Europe. Academic research, particularly from Chalmers University in Sweden, has been advancing the concept of a "massless EV battery" by using carbon fiber as a structural material in battery cells. This multifunctional carbon fiber replaces conventional aluminum foil in electrodes, providing increased stiffness, energy density, and faster charging capabilities. Funded by Swedish agencies, this research aims to create lighter, more efficient batteries that serve both as energy storage and structural components, further