The link you posted is from 2010--roadster days. The cells used in the roadster are not the same as those in the Model S. And Model 3 will be using new cells as well.
There's been immense R&D by both parties since 2010, and the latest supply agreement was finalized July 2014.
I'm hoping for something a little more formal than a PR blurb--like an SEC filing as grandparent alluded to.
Re:Tesla's Model X Was a Mistake
by dragontamer on Friday February 05, 2016 @06:58PM
(#11045664)
Not really. 18650 cells are still being deployed by TSLA. The hypothetical Gigafactory 26650 cells aren't out yet.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/panasonic-backs-teslas-gigafac...
But considering the $1.6 Billion investment from Panasonic, it looks like Panasonic owns at least half of the gigafactory. This suggests that Panasonic still owns the cell technology / chemistry.
18650 refers to the cell form factor--the size and shape--and has nothing to do with the chemistry inside. It's like saying two PC motherboards are the same because they're both ATX.
The cells in the original roadster were 3.7 V / 2100 mAh vs. 3.6 V / 3100 mAh for the latest. They're both 18650 cells--completely different chemistry.
More specifically, Tesla's shipping Panasonic NCR16850A cells with Panasonic's newish LiNiCoO2 chemistry - same as in a lot of more modern laptop batteries. The Roadster was presumably one of their older cells like the CGR18650.
> “Being selected by Tesla to provide cells for their current and next- generation EV battery pack is a tremendous validation of Panasonic’s nickel-based chemistry and the extensive investments Panasonic continues to make in lithium ion R&D and production,” said Naoto Noguchi, President of Panasonic Energy Company.
TSLA patents are in regards to batteries: collections of cells working together. But the Lithium needs to be turned into a cell... before collections of cells can turn into a battery.