
OSAKA -- Panasonic will start mass production of new lithium-ion batteries that increase the range of electric vehicles over 15% as early as 2023, with the first deliveries heading for Tesla.
The new battery is expected to give the vehicles one of the world's longest ranges per battery weight and will compete with rival South Korean and Chinese battery makers. Given that EVs will be able to travel farther on a single charge, Panasonic expects the shift to EVs will accelerate and is investing heavily in the development of such batteries.