When it comes to innovation and intelligent solutions in the automotive area, you cannot deny Tesla has been at the forefront of both. CEO Elon Musk may often find himself in controversial situations, but has also proven himself to be an all-around good guy. He's also known for making difficult-to-keep promises; the world's wealthiest man has previously said the delayed Cybertruck would arrive in 2021 but, since then, it's been pushed back to 2023.

Nevertheless, when Musk speaks, the world listens. The eccentric chief executive recently told workers at the Giga Berlin factory (where the Model Y is built) that Tesla is in the process of working on a manganese-based battery, to slot in between the cheaper LFP items and the pricier nickel-based batteries found in long-range Teslas.

Fielding questions from Giga Berlin plant workers, Musk explained the company's stance on battery packs. "I think [with] battery materials, for long-range it will be a nickel-based cathode...and then for standard range [vehicles] it would be iron phosphate, and I think there's an interesting potential for manganese."

The CEO continues, noting he's confident Tesla can "scale to global volumes using iron phosphate and manganese cathode."

While he didn't embellish further details, this isn't the first time the company has hinted at manganese batteries. As per Elektrek, Musk has previously said in 2020, "It is relatively straightforward to do a cathode that's two-third nickel and one-third manganese, which will allow us to make 50% more cell volume with the same amount of nickel."

Interestingly, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd (CATL) - one of Tesla's biggest suppliers - is rumored to be looking to set up a factory on our shores. Company insiders say executives have not made a decision as yet, with Canada, the US, and Mexico all being potential options. While the company hasn't commented on the matter, sources say the factory will produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-manganese-cobalt cells.

This would undoubtedly help Tesla in reducing costs which would, in turn, trickle down to the customer. Despite recent price increases, the California-based company has seen incredible demand. It's so strong, in fact, that Tesla simply cannot supply enough cars in time. Place an order for a Model Y today and you can expect it in the first half of 2023. The introduction of a middle ground battery pack would only increase the brand's popularity; let's just hope the innovative brand figures out a way to ramp up production.