Small amounts of silicon are also likely used in the anode as well.Įlectrolyte: The electrolyte is made of a lithium salt.Ĭopper and/or aluminum foil is also used in the battery as well. Small amounts of lithium are also used in the cathode.Īnode: The negative terminal uses natural or synthetic graphite to hold lithium ions.

Here’s what’s in each cell:Ĭathode: The Tesla Model S battery cathode uses an NCA formulation with the approximate ratio: 80% nickel, 15% cobalt, and 5% aluminum. The battery itself contains 7,104 lithium-ion battery cells. This puts the car’s center of gravity a mere 44.5 centimeters off the ground, giving the car unprecedented stability. The Tesla battery pack weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg), which is equal to about 26% of the car’s total weight. Steel: The stationary piece of the engine, the stator, is made from both copper and steel. Rubber: Natural rubber comes from rubber trees, but today 70% of US rubber is synthetic, made from petrochemicals.Ĭopper: Tesla’s high-performance copper rotor motor delivers 300 horsepower and weighs 100 lbs (45.4 kg).

Silicon: Glass windows and other features are made from silicon.Ĭarbon fiber and copper wire are also used within the interior for various components.īauxite: Aluminum alloy wheels are also made from bauxite ore. Leather: Leather is derived from animal skin, mainly cowhides. Plastic: Most plastics are made from petrochemicals. Rare Earth Metals: While Tesla engines and batteries do not use rare earths, most high-end car speakers and other electronics use rare earth elements such as neodymium magnets. Titanium: The underbody of the Tesla Model S is made from ultra high-strength titanium, which protects the battery from nearly any roadside force or piercing. Boron steel is made from iron, boron, coking coal, and other additives. The total amount of aluminum used in the car is 410 lbs (190 kg).īoron steel: High-strength boron steel is used to reinforce the aluminum at critical safety points. Aluminum is lightweight, which helps to maximize the range of the battery beyond that of other EVs. Here’s what’s in a Tesla Model S:īauxite: The Tesla Model S body and chassis are built almost entirely from aluminum, which comes from bauxite ore. However, it is also worth considering that it is the incredible raw materials that go into the Tesla Model S that help to make all of these things possible. The Tesla Model S is the world’s most-wanted electric car, with 100,000 units already sold as of December 2015.Ĭritics have lauded the car for its impressive safety rating, range, and design. Presented by: Red Cloud Klondike Strike (Equity crowdfunding in mining) The Extraordinary Raw Materials in a Tesla Model S

List of all tesla models