Tesla Ramps Up on Three Fronts

The dry electrode technology stems from Tesla's 2019 acquisition of Maxwell Technologies for over $200 million. While Tesla later sold Maxwell's ultracapacitor business, it retained the core dry battery electrode (DBE) intellectual property, which is central to its cost-reduction strategy. This manufacturing process eliminates the use of toxic solvents and energy-intensive drying ovens, which can dominate a traditional battery factory's footprint and operational costs. The new calendering patent is a key step in solving the production bottleneck for the 4680 battery cells, aiming to lower costs to a level that makes a $25,000 vehicle profitable. The planned 400+ stall Supercharger station will be located in Yermo, California, at a development known as "Eddie World 2" along the heavily-trafficked I-15 corridor between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Construction is slated to begin in phases starting in 2026, with the first stage including 72 next-generation V4 stalls. This new station will more than double the size of Tesla's current largest site, the 164-stall "Oasis" Supercharger in Lost Hills, California. As of mid-2025, Tesla's network already included over 70,000 connectors globally, accounting for a commanding share of high-speed charging infrastructure in many markets. Giga Shanghai is currently Tesla's most efficient production plant and primary export hub, with the capacity to produce over 750,000 Model 3 and Model Y vehicles annually. The factory's production speed, at just 37 seconds per vehicle, is more than twice as fast as the 76 seconds at its Texas factory. Speculation around a Shanghai expansion centers on a potential "Phase 3" for vehicle production, which could be dedicated to a new, more affordable model. This is separate from a new Megafactory already under construction in Shanghai, which is set to produce 10,000 Megapack large-scale batteries per year starting in 2025.