It kinda sorta is, but not exactly.
Comment on Elon Musk reveals Tesla software-locked cheapest Model Y, offers 40-60 more miles of range
ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 4 months agoThat’s… not how battery packs work
Steve@startrek.website 4 months ago
SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 4 months ago
That’s actually how the majority of batter packs operate, they have a margin of cells to replace when they start undercurrenting.
ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 4 months ago
No. The packs aren’t like flash storage where they have spare blocks to use when one block wears out. Essentially switching in something that wasn’t used at all before.
The cells are all connected physically, being charged and drained. They do not connect and disconnect cells when wear occurs. They have software limitations on how far to charge and discharge (at what voltage and c rating). Yes, a larger pack will last longer if the charge/discharge cycles aren’t as “deep”. But no, they don’t have spare cells just to cover wear.
SchmidtGenetics@lemmy.world 4 months ago
You realize you can also use a microcontroller to completely shutoff cells so they don’t get used until one dies yeah?
ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 4 months ago
No. Handwaving a microcontroller doesn’t fix it unless you have two high current contactors per cell, and multiple intermediate busses and contactors, it’s not going to work.
That’s going to add a ton in transmission complexity, and weight, that doesn’t really benefit the battery at all. Along with the fact that cells should be balanced in wear and cycles. It just doesn’t make sense.