Tesla to roll out Model 3 cars with cobalt- free batteries, sources say

BEIJING: US electric car- maker Tesla is poised to start selling some Model 3 vehicles made in China equipped with cobalt- free lithium iron phosphate ( LFP) batteries, two people familiar with the matter said.

Currently, the Model 3 electric sedans made at the car- maker’s Chinese plant use nickelmanganese- cobalt ( NMC) batteries.

Tesla will announce the product change as early as today, the two sources said.

They declined to be named as the matter is confidential.

Tesla was not immediately available for comment.

LFP batteries are cheaper to make and contain no cobalt, one of the most expensive metals used in electric vehicle batteries.

Tesla will use LFP batteries in all Model 3 vehicles made in China with standard driving ranges, according to the sources.

In China, the world’s biggest car market, Tesla sold over 11 000 vehicles, mostly Model 3s, in August. It is also building a new car manufacturing capacity for Model Y SUVS in Shanghai and expects to start delivery from next year.