Tesla’s Model Y remains one of the best-selling electric vehicles on the planet, and one of the many reasons for this is Tesla’s relentless focus on battery technology. In the recent first look at the charging performance of the updated Model Y L, we learned that Tesla is now using the all-new LG 5M battery cells in this vehicle. Early results indicate that the 5M pack has a much sharper charging curve in comparison to the old LG 5L battery, and the peak charging power has been notably increased.
For current owners and future buyers, it means that charging stops will be getting quicker, long-range usability will be improved, and it may give a good indication of Tesla’s next stage of battery strategy.
5L to 5M, what has changed?
The previous generation LG 5L battery, used in the 2021 and 2022 variant Tesla Model Y and Model 3, was reliable; however, it was often ridiculed for its charging performance, as it rarely matched the peak charging power of other in-house Tesla cells made by Panasonic or CATL. Typically, the 5L started max charging power of ~200kW at ~13% state of charge (SoC), which, while adequate, represented the slowest charging from the best in-house Tesla packs offered, which can max out ~250kW for short periods and even higher.
Although the new LG 5M battery seems to narrow that gap considerably. Early charging tests show that at the same 13% SoC, the pack hit a remarkable 256 kW. The improvement over the 5L is more than 25% significant. Even more significant is the reporting that the charging curve – the shape of the graph which shows charging power against battery percentage – is much flatter and sustained. In practice, this means that the car will hold higher charging rates, or longer, as opposed to ramping up and quickly ramping down.
#SneekPeek #ModelYL #LG5M
Source unknown at the moment… pic.twitter.com/9t0iLBzJWB— eivissa⚡🔋🚁🌱🤘🇪🇺 (@eivissacopter) September 7, 2025
Why Charging Curves Matter?
For EV drivers, the peak charging number is a headline, but that’s only part of the story. What really determines how fast you get back on the road is the average charging power supplied over most of the charging session. A car that spikes at 250 kW but quickly drops down to 100 kW may take longer to reach 80% than a car that holds steady at 200 kW.
Tesla’s Supercharger network is already one of the fastest and most reliable in the world, but changes like the 5M battery can elevate road travel to another level. Holding greater than 200 kW for a greater portion of the charging session means shorter stops, less wait times, and more parity with Tesla’s other battery suppliers.
What This Means for Tesla’s Fleet
The launch of the LG 5M battery shows Tesla’s multi-supplier strategy is working. Rather than being tied to just one battery partner, Tesla sources batteries from its partners LG, Panasonic, and CATL, depending on each vehicle configuration and where Tesla ultimately produces the vehicle. Each supplier is required to innovate and improve.
The improvements offered by the 5M show that LG has stepped up its game and has closed the gap with Panasonic’s well-respected 2170 cells and CATL’s fast-charging LFP packs. For Tesla, it means backup options in the supply chain to manage disruptions, and it gives consumers a new battery supplier who improves performance without needing extensive redesign work on the vehicle itself.
It is also worth noting that faster charging speeds do not only benefit drivers – they also help Tesla manage the utilization of Supercharger stations. If each car is connected to the station for shorter periods of time, then in the same timeframe, more drivers will be able to utilize a single charging station, helping to reduce congestion during peak travel seasons.
