Significant changes are underway in the electric vehicle segment. No, I’m not talking about the shift. to EV. Despite fewer manufacturers, it is still progressing my feet get cold. What I’m referring to here is a subtle change in EV battery composition that has some important effects.
A type of lithium-ion battery called lithium iron phosphate (LFP) is becoming increasingly popular in EVs around the world. Manufacturers such as Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, and Tesla are now looking to replace or completely replace the previously dominant nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA) chemistries. We offer these packs as an alternative. year. LFP cells accounted for just 6% of the market in 2020, but have now surged to around 30%.
What do all these vague elements and a dizzying array of acronyms actually mean? And what will it be important for vehicles on the roads in the coming years? Let’s take a closer look.
First, let’s briefly explain how lithium-ion batteries work (for a more detailed explanation, Check out this detailed explanation).
A battery has three main components: an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte. When a pull occurs in the electrical circuit, for example when you press the “on” button on an EV, a chemical reaction occurs within the battery. Negative ions move between the anode and cathode and create an electrical current across the electrolyte. It is the cathode that determines the battery’s behavior, including temperature resilience, energy density, and overall lifespan.
Public EV chargers are kinder to the planet. Perfect for business.
When we talk about lithium-ion chemistry, we are actually talking about the materials that make up the positive electrode. In an LFP battery, the positive electrode is literally lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4). But more importantly, what is missing from the LFP cathode?
LFP batteries have several important benefits, but the biggest advantage for those concerned about the environmental and ethical impacts of EV ownership is that LFP batteries contain materials such as nickel, manganese, and cobalt. That’s not true.
These minerals are There are problems in many ways. Their mining causes great damage to the environment, damaging local ecosystems in unregulated areas such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Myanmar. This led to the destruction of local communities and the exploitation of workers.
The cost of LFP batteries is also significantly lower. According to BloombergNEF analysisLFP cells are on average 32% cheaper than NMC cells. Sunoj George, director of battery engineering and propulsion architecture at Rivian, said his company has seen savings of 20% to 30% with LFP. September, LFP battery fell down At $60 per kilowatt-hour, it will push global battery cell prices to record lows.
LFP batteries also have better elasticity, which means they have a longer lifespan. This means that vehicles equipped with LFP batteries can accommodate more charge/discharge cycles before the battery’s capacity begins to degrade, making EVs ideal for vehicles and other applications that require frequent recharging. is.
Helen and Milton reveal a new challenge for first responders: EV battery fires
This resiliency also helps the battery cope with extreme temperatures. “LFP offers better thermal stability than ternary systems [three-part] battery systems like NCM and NCA,” said Rivian’s George. Therefore, there is little concern about battery fires in cars equipped with LFP.
If LFP batteries have all these benefits, why aren’t all EVs equipped with LFP batteries? Unfortunately, they have some significant drawbacks.
The biggest one is energy density. LFP batteries offer less capacity for a given weight and volume. This means less range on a single charge. This is offset somewhat by the fast charging mentioned above, so it’s less of an issue if you take frequent short trips. However, this is a potential attack on LFP-equipped vehicles, as so many consumers still value maximum range over other factors.
Another problem is poor performance in cold regions. EVs equipped with LFP will lose even more maximum range when the battery cools, and charging may also be difficult at low temperatures.
However, there are ways to deal with this. Rivian’s George says the company’s “temperature regulation system” ensures that customers do not see any perceptible difference between the cold-weather performance of an LFP and the performance of an NCM or NCA battery. says it can be done.
Finally, LFP batteries are cheaper to manufacture, but also have a lower value when recycled. “LFP packs have lower intrinsic metal value compared to nickel-based packs,” said Jackson Switzer, vice president of commercial for Redwood Materials. The lower value may mean there is less incentive to recycle these batteries, but the good news is that they can be easily recycled as well.
EV sales are growing. So why are automakers so indifferent?
So it’s a give-and-take, but more and more manufacturers are deciding the trade-off is worth it, especially for their own vehicle applications.
Mercedes-Benz has selected LFP cells for its new eSprinter van. “The cell degradation is lower than other batteries, guaranteeing durability and low maintenance requirements at the same time. They are ideal for light commercial vehicles,” says Klaus, Head of Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Vans.・Mr. Rögler said.
LFP cells will make more sense as EV charging stations become more prevalent, said Lisa Drake, Ford’s vice president of EV programs and energy supply chain. [charge] More often. And you want to fast charge more often. And LFP battery technology makes it possible. ”
The same applies to private cars. Last year, Mercedes-Benz unveiled the Concept CLA-Class, a small, next-generation electric sedan scheduled to debut next year. Mercedes-Benz Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer said the company offers a variety of battery technologies. “This is an entry version with an LFP battery that has a low range as it needs to be split. If you convert it to kilos it might be 500km [311 miles] In this CLA class car,” he said. “But at the higher end, you can choose more horsepower and longer range.” Performance-oriented versions will therefore rely on non-LFP designs.
LFP is expected to gain further momentum in the future. Ann April report from BloombergNEF points to the continued increase in LFP production in China by major suppliers such as CATL and the production expansion of manufacturers around the world such as South Korea’s LG Energy Solutions.
Given the durability and cost advantages of LFP batteries, Ford’s Drake believes it’s imperative for manufacturers to have LFP supplies in place.
