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.
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.
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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The Subaru BRZ may live on as an EV after all. Subaru wants its share of the sports car market, and an electric BRZ could hit the sweet spot.
Is Subaru launching an electric BRZ?
Subaru discontinued the BRZ in Europe in 2020 after the first generation. Although its twin, the Toyota GR86, was sold until the 2024 model year, the BRZ was released as a US-only model.
In its third generation, it could return as an EV. Speaking with Autocar, Subaru’s European head, David Dello Stritto, said, “Our options are open,” hinting that the BRZ could make a comeback in electric form.
Subaru’s global EV product boss, Inoue Masahiko, confirmed an electric version of the sports car “was under consideration.” He added that Subaru has extensively looked into an EV version of the BRZ with its partner, Toyota.
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Masahiko explained that “We did consider electrifying the BRZ and GR86, but the win-win relationship is more important.” So far, “We can’t get the kind of benefits from both sides,” he added.
2026 Subaru Uncharted EV (Source: Subaru)
Subaru is already launching several new electric vehicles in Europe, including the new Uncharted, E-Outback (known as Trailseeker in the US), and an updated Solterra SUV.
Stritto said that an electric sports car will depend on the success of these models first, especially the Uncharted. According to Subaru’s European boss, the Japanese automaker feels “very positively about Subaru enthusiasts, but we need to see how Uncharted does first.”
2026 Subaru Solterra EV (Source: Subaru)
As for an “electrified” powertrain, or hybrid, Masahiko said the vehicle’s packaging “would make it difficult,” adding an EV version would be “easier” to create.
The comments come after Stritto told Autocar last week that a new entry-level EV could also be in the works. However, that will also depend on how well the Uncharted sells.
For those in the US, don’t worry – Subaru is not planning to discontinue the BRZ. If it did launch as an EV, would you consider one? It would go up against the new Hyundai IONIQ 6 N and Tesla Model 3 Performance.
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The new Nissan LEAF will arrive at dealerships this fall, and to go with it, the company has introduced a new one-stop shop for EV chargers and more.
Nissan launches new shop for EV chargers and more
Nissan says it’s “building more than electric vehicles” after launching its new “Nissan Energy Marketplace” on Thursday.
The new one-stop shop was developed in collaboration with Electrum, a leading home energy marketplace provider. Electrum has built similar platforms for other major automakers, including Tesla (in certain regions), Hyundai, and Honda.
Nissan joins in just as the new and (much) improved LEAF is about to hit US dealerships. Through the new marketplace, you can research and find EV chargers, solar panels, and battery storage options.
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With the help of Electrum’s Energy Advisors, you can compare prices from a nationwide network of contractors. You can also find local, state, and federal incentives to reduce your costs further.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF will reach US dealerships this fall. Dropping the iconic hatch design, the LEAF is now all grown up with a more crossover SUV-like profile.
Nissan launches new Nissan Energy Marketplace (Source: Nissan)
Powered by a 75 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery, the new LEAF has up to 303 miles of driving range. That’s a significant difference from the maximum 212-mile range offered on the outgoing model, which was powered by a 62 kWh battery.
2026 Nissan LEAF (Source: Nissan)
It can also recharge from 10% to 80% in as little as 35 minutes. Perhaps the best part is that the 2026 Nissan LEAF will include a built-in NACS port, enabling access to Tesla Superchargers.
Nissan has yet to reveal prices, but the new LEAF EV is expected to start in the $35,000 to $40,000 range. The new LEAF is one of ten new Nissan and Infiniti models slated to launch in North America by 2028, as the Japanese automaker seeks to revamp its brand. A new “adventure-focused” electric SUV is set to arrive around 2027, followed by a luxury Infiniti EV SUV.
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Two years after world leaders pledged to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, a new report shows that most countries still aren’t planning like they mean it.
Global energy think tank Ember released new data showing that national targets for renewable energy have barely budged since the COP28 climate summit in 2023. Collectively, countries are now aiming for just 7.4 terawatts (TW) of renewable energy by 2030 – that’s only a 2% increase in ambition since the agreement was signed. To hit the global tripling goal of tripling renewables by 2030, we need to reach 11 TW. Right now, we’re still on track for just a doubling.
“The purpose of a national renewables target is less so to force more renewables to be built, but rather to make sure they are built smarter,” said Dr. Katye Altieri, global electricity analyst at Ember. Setting clear goals helps governments plan where to build projects and how to best integrate them into the grid, and it helps companies invest in supply chains. What results is cheaper, more secure electricity.
Since COP28, only 22 countries have updated their renewables targets, and most of them are in the European Union. Outside the EU, just seven countries have made changes. That sluggish response highlights how most governments are still moving at their usual planning pace, despite the climate emergency.
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The world’s biggest electricity producers haven’t done much either. The US still doesn’t have a national 2030 renewables target — and with Trump’s rollback of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), there’s little to no chance of that happening during this administration. India’s target of 500 GW hasn’t moved, but it’s already aligned with the tripling goal. Russia has no 2030 target at all, and no plans to set one.
China is finalizing its 15th Five-Year Plan for Energy, which is expected to include a 2030 renewables target, though it’s unclear if that will be part of the plan, its nationally determined contribution (NDC), or both. South Africa is also updating its Integrated Resource Plan, which could bring a new 2030 goal.
This report lands just as countries are gearing up for COP30 in Brazil, and without urgent, ambitious target updates and a clear path to implementation, the world is set to miss the 2030 goal. That would also be a missed opportunity to boost investment, cut fossil fuel use, and build a more affordable and resilient energy system.
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