Tesla Lithium Refinery Goes Live, Charging Long-Term Development

Image: Tesla

Tesla launches lithium refinery, its cars win awards, and Cybertruck gets a new spin. Welcome to the weekly news roundup with Jowua.

Cybertruck Gets Automobile Energy Consumption Label in China

While the electric pickup truck seemed unlikely to enter the Chinese market, Tesla is exploring its options. Last week, Cybertruck received an Automobile Energy Consumption Label from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), a major news item. Tesla China denies immediate plans to bring the pickup truck to market, but the approval suggests the company is still exploring its options.

Tesla Cybertruck Can Charge Up to 325kW

Tesla Cybertruck can now use its 800V architecture as Tesla has rolled out an upgraded 325kW charger. It is only available at select V4 Supercharger stations in the US. There are 12 such charging stations in total, located in various states. A wider rollout is planned for next year.

Tesla Model 3 Earns 5-Star Rating in Green NCAP Test

In 2022, Green NCAP tested Tesla Model 3 for the first time, and the car set new standards in energy efficiency. Today, the results of the new Model 3 rear-wheel drive are even more impressive. The car has an efficient drivetrain combined with extremely optimized aerodynamics. This enables a new record of just 20.8 kWh/100 km in the BAB130 Highway test.

Green NCAP confirmed the usable battery capacity of 60 kWh, which allows the small Tesla to travel 324 km in dynamic highway speed mode. In the mixed driving type real-world On-Road Drive, Model 3 recorded a consumption of only 14.2 kWh/100 km, which corresponds to a range of 475 km. A short city trip required only 12.4 kWh/100 km and could be repeated for a total of 547 km. In the cold environment test at -7 °C, not only is the low consumption rate impressive, but also the thermal management system reached 18 °C at the front passenger headrest in just three minutes. The new Model 3 received an average score of 98% and 5 green stars.

Tesla Starts Lithium Refinery Operations in Texas

Late last week, the company announced that it had begun operations at its new lithium refinery located in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tesla reported that raw materials were successfully passed through the plant’s furnace for the first time. This marks a new milestone in the company’s development, which will ensure its long-term prosperity.