Some thoughts on the advantages of $TSLA's Maxwell dry electrode tech:
1) I guess a key benefit of Maxwell’s technology is to allow for a thicker cathode layer and hence a higher active materials volume ratio & higher cell energy densities (even with existing cathode chemistry).
1) I guess a key benefit of Maxwell’s technology is to allow for a thicker cathode layer and hence a higher active materials volume ratio & higher cell energy densities (even with existing cathode chemistry).
2) The new process significantly reduces manufacturing footprint and cost for the electrode stages of cell manufacturing.
3) Maxwell electrodes have improved properties which allow for new cathode & anode chemistries (with higher energy densities).
4) Possibly this dry electrode process makes it easier to manufacture single crystal cathodes (a key feature of much of Tesla/Dahn’s recent research & the 1 million mile battery paper).
5) It is important to note Maxwell’s tech is not for manufacturing a full battery cell - it is just a replacement for several steps in the process. When Tesla moves to in-house cell manufacturing it will need to use further in-house R&D/IP it has developed for the other steps. 
6) Some comments from Maxwell’s papers:
A) "results suggest that dry coated electrodes exhibit lower particle-to-particle contact resistance and charge transfer impedance, likely due to a uniform network of interconnects between binder and active material particles.”
A) "results suggest that dry coated electrodes exhibit lower particle-to-particle contact resistance and charge transfer impedance, likely due to a uniform network of interconnects between binder and active material particles.”
B) "The lower charge transfer and contact resistance in the dry coated electrode offer higher energy density cell designs with improved power capability.”
C) "Maxwell’s dry coated battery electrode offers extraordinary benefits including manufacturing cost reduction, elimination of solvent toxicity, enabling the application of liquid sensitive battery chemistries & enhancing cell performance, particularly at high loading weights”
D) "In addition to manufacturing flexibility, the cohesion and adhesion properties of electrodes derived from the dry process are superior in the presence of electrolyte at high temperatures compared to those produced using the wet coating technology.”
E) "Maxwell’s DBE offers significantly high loading and produces a thick electrode that allows for high energy density cells without compromising physical properties and electrochemical performance”
F) "nickel-rich layered dry cathode film produced at the lab & pilot production level ..with coating loading of 30-40mg/cm2 per coating side ..significantly heavier than typical wet cast electrode in the range of 20-24mg/cm2per coating side in commercial high energy 18650 cell.”
G) "The benefits are lower CO2 emission, lower capex and opex cost, improved energy density and the ability to process moisture sensitive or reactive materials.”
H) "As a solvent-free process, the polymer binder is not dissolved; as a result, the binding mechanism is an inter-connecting network comprised of point-contacts with the active material particle surface."
I) "This dry binding structure is less obtrusive and, consequently, enables lithium ions better access to the active material particles. This feature is especially advantageous for high rate performance in high energy density electrodes."
Some further thoughts on Tesla's possible cell technology roadmap:
Some further comments on Tesla's current cell/pack technology and strategy:
