Cylindrical batteries refer to batteries that are mostly packaged using cylindrical steel casings. Cylindrical batteries have an early start. Compared with prismatic batteries and pouch batteries, they have higher technical maturity, lower costs, and higher product consistency. However, their energy density is lower, and the grouping efficiency of products is also lower.
Cylindrical batteries were invented by Sony Corporation and were initially used in the consumer electronics field. In 2008, Panasonic's cylindrical batteries were paired with Tesla, pioneering the application of cylindrical batteries in electric vehicles.
In early 2025, high-end automakers such as Tesla, BMW, and Porsche officially announced their plans to adopt large cylindrical batteries in their vehicles.
Large cylindrical batteries have obvious advantages in performance, safety, and manufacturing.
In terms of performance, large cylindrical batteries feature high energy density, light weight, high specific energy, excellent fast-charging performance, and a long cycle life.
In terms of safety, large cylindrical batteries boast good thermal stability, stable mechanical structure, and strong anti-expansion capability.
In terms of manufacturing, large cylindrical batteries have a high degree of standardization, making them easy for automated production; once the manufacturing process matures, they become more stable with good product consistency.
The high-performance label and high technical threshold of large cylindrical batteries are in line with the market positioning of high-end automobile brands.
While large cylindrical batteries offer advantages in performance, safety, and manufacturing, their higher technical level, greater manufacturing difficulty, and stronger edge in applying next-generation technologies all endow them with a clear high-end attribute. For example, Tesla, which pioneered the application of large cylindrical batteries in electric vehicles, mainly uses large cylindrical batteries in its Cybertruck model. The prices of its different variants are $79,990 and $99,990 respectively, making it Tesla's current most expensive vehicle.
"The lithium iron phosphate potassium battery is an intellectual property unique to China." For the supply chains of European and American automakers, the adoption of large cylindrical batteries offers higher security.
Overseas automakers focusing on economy models also attach great importance to China's lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. For example, Ford CEO Jim Farley stated: "Lithium iron phosphate batteries cost almost half as much, have a lower risk of fire, and a longer cycle life, but lithium iron phosphate is an intellectual property unique to China." Although South Korean battery companies are accelerating the launch of lithium iron phosphate batteries, in terms of technology, upstream raw materials, and components, they all come from Chinese enterprises. Therefore, if European and American automakers choose lithium iron phosphate batteries, they will be deeply tied to China's supply chain. In comparison, large cylindrical batteries offer higher supply chain security.
