Tesla poaches battery expert to fix its dry electrode issue

Published

3 years ago

March 30, 2023

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Tesla has poached a battery manufacturing expert to lead its dry electrode, which has been identified as one of the main bottlenecks for Tesla’s 4680 battery cell.

When Tesla unveiled its 4680 battery cell at its Battery Day in 2020, the automaker highlighted several advancements that can significantly slash battery costs when bottled together.

One of those main advancements was a dry electrode coating technology that Tesla obtained by acquiring Maxwell.

This powder-into-film process is wildly less complicated and requires less machinery than the usual wet process to create an electrode.

Tesla claimed that it would result in a “10x reduction in footprint” and “10x reduction in energy” usage.

Some experts have speculated that it could reduce the cost of a battery pack by thousands of dollars.

However, as the automaker admitted when announcing the 4580 battery cell, the technology acquired through Maxwell wasn’t quite ready for primetime yet and needed more work before Tesla could ramp up 4680 battery cell production to high volume.

Recent teardowns of Tesla’s 4680 cells in Model Y vehicles produced at Gigafactory Texas show that the dry electrode factor is still not where Tesla needs it to be.

The automaker recently admitted that it is still working through some kinks, and a recent report suggested that it is still the main bottleneck for Tesla to ramp up production.

A new battery expert to the rescue

Electrek has learned that Tesla has hired a new battery manufacturing expert to help carry the dry electrode project to the finish line.

Matt Tyler, a Milwaukee School of Engineering educated mechanical engineer, has been working on battery cell for over a decade.

Most recently, he was working for Cambridge-based 24M, a battery manufacturer pioneering what it calls “semisolid electrodes” for lithium-ion batteries.

The company describes the technology on its website:

Invented in the MIT lab of Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, SemiSolid electrodes use no binder, mixing electrolyte with active materials to form a clay-like slurry. The unique slurry allow us to create thick electrodes with less volume, mass and cost while enabling a simpler manufacturing process. It’s simpler and safer with more reliable performance.

It sounds a lot like what Tesla is trying to achieve with its dry electrode.

Tyler was at the company for more than six years, and most recently, he held the role of vice president of advanced manufacturing.

He wrote about his responsibilities on his LinkedIn profile:

Responsible for managing the development of semi-solid lithium ion battery manufacturing engineering. Leading the overall manufacturing concept design, equipment vendor/partner selections, in-house equipment and tooling development, and process development to be competitive in cost and product quality in the lithium base rechargeable battery market. Working closely with the VP Product Development to select and implement analytical equipment, as well as design and develop processes to meet the tolerances defined in product and process specifications. Also working closely with Director of Product Launch, and the Director of Operations, to define and execute against milestones and product delivery schedules.

That’s until he moved to Tesla last month.

As of February, the engineer moved from Massachusetts to Fremont, California, and he is now “Director of Dry Electrode Development” at Tesla.

He will be in charge of effectively ramping up the manufacturing process to work with Tesla’s ambitious mass production plans.

The automaker wants to eventually produce hundreds of gigawatt-hours of its own battery cells.

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India’s inflation rises to 0.71% in November as decline in food, fuel prices loses steam

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2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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India’s inflation rises to 0.71% in November as decline in food, fuel prices loses steam

Shoppers purchase groceries at the upscale LuLu Hypermarket located in the Lulu International Shopping Mall in Kerala, India, on May 25, 2022.

Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images

India’s consumer inflation rose to 0.71% in November, accelerating from an all-time low of 0.25% in the prior month.

The headline inflation number was in line with estimates of a 0.70% rise in the consumer price index, according to a Reuters poll of economists’ median estimates.

The rise in consumer inflation was due to rises in the price of vegetables, eggs, meat and fish, spices and fuel, the government said in its Friday release, adding that fuel and light prices rose 2.32% in November compared to 1.98% in October.

Inflation also rose in both urban and rural areas.

Low inflation environment, coupled with the weakening of some key economic indicators, led India’s central bank to cut its policy rates by 25 basis points last week, allowing it to boost the country’s already strong economic growth.

The Reserve Bank of India expects consumer inflation at 2% for fiscal year ending March 2026, down from 2.6% forecast in October. It estimates CPI at 2.9% in the three months to March, rising to 4.0% in the quarter ending September 2026.

“The growth-inflation balance, especially the benign inflation outlook on both headline and core, continues to provide the policy space to support the growth momentum,” the central bank said last week after its monetary policy meeting.

Low inflation outlook has allowed the central bank “to remain growth supportive,” RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, adding that the central bank will “continue to meet productive requirements of the economy in a proactive manner.”

Experts are divided on whether the 25-basis-point cut will be the last in this easing cycle or the RBI could ease further, given Malhotra’s “dovish” signals.

“We believe weaker growth down the line, low for long inflation, and tight fiscal policy may require growth supportive monetary policy in 2026 as well,” HSBC Research said in a report last week, post the monetary policy announcement.

In August, the U.S. imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian imports, raising total duties to as high as 50%, among the steepest imposed by Washington on its trading partners, with textiles, gems and jewelry, and marine products being hit the hardest.

While exports to the U.S. account for just about 2% of India’s GDP, a prolonged weakness in those labor-intensive sectors could lead to job losses and weigh on overall growth.

To cushion the blow, New Delhi rationalized its goods and services tax regime, reducing levies on several items on Sept. 22, to spur domestic demand ahead of a month-long festive season. The tax cuts led to reduced prices for consumer goods, vehicles, and farm products, boosting consumption.

While consumption picked up, exports to the U.S., one of India’s major trading partners, fell for a second straight month in October, sliding 8.5% from a year earlier to $6.3 billion. Overall, outbound shipments in October also dropped 11.8% to $34.38 billion.

With no deal between New Delhi and Washington in sight, in the last few days, and a drop in exports, the Indian rupee has been hitting record lows against the dollar, and was trading below the 90-rupee-per-dollar mark on Friday.

Environment

Global EV sales jump 21% in 2025 as Europe surges and the US stalls

Published

13 hours ago

December 12, 2025

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Global EV sales jump 21% in 2025 as Europe surges and the US stalls

EV and battery supply chain research specialists Benchmark Mineral Intelligence reports that 2.0 million electric vehicles were sold globally in November 2025, bringing global EV sales to 18.5 million units year-to-date. That’s a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Europe was the clear growth leader in November, while North America continued to lag following the expiration of US EV tax credits. China, meanwhile, remains the world’s largest EV market by a wide margin.

Europe leads global growth

Europe’s EV market jumped 36% year-over-year in November 2025, with BEV sales up 35% and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales rising 39%. That brings Europe’s total EV sales to 3.8 million units for the year so far, up 33% compared to January–November 2024.

France finally returned to year-to-date growth in November, edging up 1% after spending most of 2025 in the red following earlier subsidy cuts. The rebound was led by OEMs such as the Volkswagen Group and Renault, a wider selection of EV models, and France’s “leasing social” program, aimed at helping lower-income households switch to EVs.

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Italy also posted a standout month, logging record EV sales of just under 25,000 units in November. The surge followed the launch of a new incentive program designed to replace older ICE vehicles. The program earmarks €597.3 million (about $700 million) in funding for the replacement of around 39,000 gas cars.

The UK expanded access to its full £3,750 ($4,400) EV subsidy by adding five more eligible models: the Nissan Leaf (built in Sunderland, with deliveries starting in early 2026), the MINI Countryman, Renault 4, Renault 5, and Alpine A290.

US market slows after federal tax credit’s premature death

In North America, EV sales in the US did tick up month-over-month in November, following a sharp October drop after federal tax credits expired on September 30, 2025. Brands including Kia (up 30%), Hyundai (up 20%), Honda (up 11%), and Subaru (232 Solterra sales versus just 13 the month before) all saw gains, but overall volumes remain below levels when the federal tax credit was still available.

Policy changes aren’t helping. In early December, Trump formally “reset” US Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, lowering the required fleetwide average to about 34.5 mpg by 2031. That’s a steep drop from the roughly 50.4 mpg target under the previous rule. Automakers can now meet the standard largely through gas vehicles, reducing pressure to scale BEVs and PHEVs.

Those loosened rules are already reflected in investment decisions, such as Stellantis’ $13 billion plan to expand US production by 50%, with a heavy focus on ICE vehicles. Earlier this year, Trump’s big bill set fines for missing CAFE targets to $0, further weakening the incentive for OEMs to electrify.

That’s some foolish policymaking, considering the world reached peak gas car sales in 2017. The US under Trump will be left behind, just as it will be with its attempts to revive the coal industry.

China still dominates, exports surge

China remains the backbone of global EV sales, even as growth slows. The Chinese market grew 3% year-over-year and 4% month-over-month in November. Year-to-date, EV sales in China are up 19%, with 11.6 million units sold.

One of the biggest headlines out of China is exports. BYD reported a record 131,935 EV exports in November, blowing past its previous high of around 90,000 units set in June. BYD sales in Europe have jumped more than fourfold this year to around 200,000 vehicles, doubled in Southeast Asia, and climbed by more than 50% in South America.

Global snapshot

Global EV sales from January to November 2025 vs January to November 2024, YTD %:

Global: 18.5 million, +21%
China: 11.6 million, +19%
Europe: 3.8 million, +33%
North America: 1.7 million, -1%
Rest of World: 1.5 million, +48%

The takeaway: EV demand continues to grow worldwide, but policy support – or the lack thereof – is increasingly shaping where this growth shows up.

“Overall, EV demand remains resilient, supported by expanding model ranges and sustained policy incentives worldwide,” said Rho Motion data manager Charles Lester.

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Environment

Hyundai’s new midsize electric SUV spotted overseas for the first time

Published

14 hours ago

December 11, 2025

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Hyundai's new midsize electric SUV spotted overseas for the first time

The Elexio is Hyundai’s first electric SUV custom-tailored for the Chinese market, but now it’s headed overseas.

Hyundai is bringing the Elexio electric SUV overseas

Hyundai’s midsize electric SUV was spotted on a carrier truck in Melbourne, Australia, alongside a few of its other vehicles.

Although the Elexio is built by Hyundai’s joint venture with BAIC Motor, Beijing-Hyundai, “tailor-made for Chinese consumers,” we had a feeling it would be sold overseas.

A few months ago, Don Romano, CEO of Hyundai Australia, hinted that the midsize electric SUV could arrive in The Land Down Under. Romano told journalists during an IONIQ 9 launch event that the Elexio’s launch in Australia was “under evaluation,” calling it “a promising vehicle.”

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Hyundai confirmed the rumors shortly after, saying the new midsize electric SUV would launch in Australia in early 2026.

According to CarsGuide, the Elexio was caught on a car carrier in Melbourne on Wednesday morning ahead of its official launch.

Powered by an 88.1 kWh battery, the Elexio delivers up to nearly 450 miles (722 km) CLTC range. It’s based on the E-GMP platform, which underpins all IONIQ models and Kia’s EV lineup, with single and dual-motor (AWD) powertrain options. The electric SUV can also recharge from 30% to 80% in about 27 minutes.

The interior is packed with advanced Chinese tech, including Huawei’s advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8295 chip that powers the massive 27″ 4K widescreen display.

The Elexio is 4,615 mm long, 1,875 mm wide, and 1,698 mm tall, with a wheelbase of 2,750 mm, which is a bit shorter than the Tesla Model Y. It’s closer in size to the BYD Yuan Plus, sold overseas as the Atto 3.

Hyundai’s midsize electric SUV is expected to compete with some of Australia’s top-selling EVs, including the Tesla Model Y and Geely EX5.

Hyundai-Elexio-electric-SUV — The Hyundai Elexio electric SUV (Source: Beijing Hyundai)

Prices have yet to be announced, but given the IONIQ 5 starts at $76,200 (AUD), before on-road costs, the Elexio should be slightly cheaper.

In China, the Elexio is available in three trims: Fun, Smart, or Tech, with pre-sale prices starting at RMB 119,800 ($16,900).

Although the electric SUV is launching in Australia and possibly other overseas markets like New Zealand, it’s not expected to be a true global vehicle. Hyundai designed it specifically for Chinese buyers, leveraging local tech and design elements.

For those in the US, if you’re looking for a midsize electric SUV, the IONIQ 5 is worth a look with 300+ miles of range, fast charging, and a spacious, tech-filled interior. With leases starting at just $189 a month, the IONIQ 5 is cheaper than most gas-powered cars in its class. You can use our link to find the Hyundai IONIQ 5 models closest to you.

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