High Energy Density Batteries Developing By Rimac

Rimac is working on a new battery module that will use 46mm diameter cylindrical cells, in order to increase the energy density of its future packs.

Rimac's director of research and advanced engineering, Wasim Sarwar Dilov, revealed that the Croatian company is working on structural battery packs that would be integrated into the car body. Rimac also wants to improve the efficiency of cell conversion in the package, with the goal that cells represent 75% of the total mass of a package. For comparison, the cells of the Porsche Taycan represent 63% of the mass of the pack, while the Tesla Model 3 stands at 64%.

The format of battery cells is somewhat familiar due to Tesla introducing 46mm diameter cylindrical cells. However, Tesla cells are 80mm high, hence the 4680 format designation , while Dilov states that Rimac cells will have varied heights depending on their application. Tesla plans to start manufacturing its own 4680 format battery cells later this year, while Samsung intends to make the cells in South Korea. Samsung SDI is also taking a more flexible approach to cell manufacturing, offering other formats with the 46mm diameter.

Rimac intends to expand the production of its new components branch to no less than 40,000 battery packs in 2023, and increase to 200,000 by 2028.

"Before we were just trying to find the best cells we could. If it's about getting cells for a few hundred cars, you can do that ," Wasim Sarwar Dilov said, adding: "Now that we are significantly increase the  volumes of hundreds of thousands of units.

Rimac has recently started production of its Nevera electric hypercar, as well as going through quite a turbulent time with investors, as Hyundai backed out of their partnership due to the Croatian electric car maker working with Porsche. This ended with an increase in investment by Porsche in June.