Tesla's New LFP Battery Supplier Has Faster Charging Capabilities

Tesla has reportedly expanded its battery supply network by adding Sunwoda Electric Vehicle Battery as a cell provider. According to a report from 36Kr, Tesla is now sourcing battery cells from Sunwoda, making it the company’s fifth global power battery supplier. The move is intended to lower production costs and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Third-generation LFP technology

Sunwoda’s cells use third-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry and support charging rates of up to 3C. Sources familiar with the effort indicate that shipments have already begun from Sunwoda’s factory in Yiwu, Zhejiang province.

3C charging rates

The “C-rate” denotes how quickly a battery can be charged or discharged relative to its total capacity. At 1C, a battery can conceptually reach a full charge in one hour. At 3C, a full charge would take roughly one-third of an hour, or about 20 minutes.

For context, Tesla’s current premium NCA (nickel-cobalt-aluminum) cells can briefly approach 3C when drawing 250 kW at a Supercharger, but the charging curve declines substantially as the state of charge increases, leading to a much lower average rate over the entire session.

Tesla’s current standard-range LFP packs are more conservative, typically topping out around a 1C or 2C rate. Moving to a sustained 3C LFP cell from Sunwoda would markedly shorten the time required to charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in entry-level models.

While 3C represents a significant step for Tesla’s LFP lineup, the broader Chinese battery landscape is advancing rapidly. Zeekr, for example, has introduced an LFP “Golden Battery” rated at 5.5C, which can recharge a vehicle from 10 to 80 percent in just under 10 minutes.

Focused on exports

Although Giga Shanghai is Tesla’s highest-volume plant, the Sunwoda batteries are not currently meant for customers in China. The report states that these cells are being installed only in vehicles built at the Shanghai facility that are scheduled for export. There is no stated timeline for potential use in vehicles sold within China.

As a result, these Sunwoda-equipped vehicles will be shipped to other Asia-Pacific markets and to Europe, the regions served by Giga Shanghai.

Change in manufacturing strategy

This partnership also reflects a shift in Tesla’s battery integration approach. In the past, Tesla purchased pre-assembled battery modules from suppliers such as CATL. With Sunwoda, Tesla is buying raw prismatic cells and will assemble the battery modules and complete packs itself.

Handling module and pack assembly in-house gives Tesla greater control over final battery costs.

Driving down costs

As competition in the global EV market intensifies, ensuring access to affordable and dependable battery supplies is crucial. Adding Sunwoda diversifies Tesla’s supply chain and reduces its heavy reliance on CATL as its primary Chinese supplier. The additional competition improves Tesla’s bargaining power, which is important for supporting automotive gross margins and keeping vehicle prices highly competitive across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.