Course of may reduce prices and scale back emissions in making LFP cells for EVs
It lays the inspiration for larger LFP manufacturing in South Korea, exterior China
Chinese language suppliers additionally proceed to innovate on a battery sort they championed
Hyundai and Kia this week launched a undertaking to develop cheaper cathode supplies for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that would additionally scale back reliance on Chinese language battery suppliers.
The undertaking goals to develop a brand new manufacturing course of for LFP cathode materials, the 2 automakers mentioned in a press launch. As an alternative of including lithium to “precursor supplies” like phosphate and iron sulfate, as in present LFP manufacturing, a brand new “direct synthesis” course of would mix iron powder, phosphate, and lithium with out the precursor step, Hyundai and Kia defined.
Eliminating this step from the manufacturing course of will reduce prices and scale back emissions of hazardous substances, decreasing the environmental influence of the battery-production course of, the automakers declare. It is also being developed in South Korea, by South Korean corporations, laying the inspiration for larger LFP battery cell manufacturing in that nation.
2025 Hyundai Kona Electrical
This information comes almost a yr after Hyundai introduced a two-year three way partnership to develop LFP batteries in its residence South Korea and reduce dependence on Chinese language battery suppliers for them—with the intention to attain inexpensive LFP cells that bypass China.
LFP battery tech originated within the U.S., however U.S. corporations deserted it for lack of a near-term payback, whereas it has been refined over the previous twenty years by a number of Chinese language corporations. Now it is used within the base Tesla Mannequin 3 and Ford Mustang Mach-E, which do not qualify for the EV tax credit score due to these variations’ Chinese language content material.
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s batteries for EVs are LFP. They are not as depending on nickel and cobalt, they usually’re much less susceptible to overheating, thermal runaway, and heat-related degradation. At present China’s BYD and CATL maintain many of the world’s manufacturing capability for LFP. Though Ford, as an illustration, plans to make some in Michigan, cells shall be made at a Ford-owned manufacturing unit with Chinese language manufacturing strategies.
2023 Kia Niro EV
Common Motors has additionally confirmed that the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV, due in 2025 as a 2026 mannequin, will use LFP cells. They may very well be key in making the Bolt EV GM’s most inexpensive EV, as promised.
In the meantime China continues to innovate on the LFP battery sort. China’s GAC launched LFP cells with a 20% increase in vitality density final yr, and CATL claims next-gen LFP cells that may add 250 miles of vary in 10 minutes.