Reports on May 19, 2026, show Tesla’s in-house 4680 battery cells underperform compared to components from LG Energy Solution.
Tesla recently integrated these proprietary cells into select European Model Y vehicles.
The 4680 battery pack delivers approximately 79 kWh of capacity, trailing the 82-84 kWh provided by LG.
This capacity gap reduces the Model Y Long Range driving distance by about 52 kilometers.
Charging from 10% to 80% takes 40 to 45 minutes with 4680 cells, compared to 27 to 30 minutes for LG batteries.
These performance deficits challenge Tesla’s strategy to lower costs and reduce reliance on third-party suppliers.
The data suggests that scaling the 4680 format remains more difficult than the company envisioned.