Breakthrough in US Based Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery Technology: Energy Density Similar To Ternary Lithium Batteries

Recently, the latest news from American battery company ONE shows that it has developed a lithium iron phosphate battery with a weight and energy density similar to that of ternary lithium batteries. However, ONE's lithium iron phosphate battery will not be put into production until the end of 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The name of this battery product is Aries II, and the charged capacity of the battery pack is 71.5-kilowatt hours. The weight energy density of its cells reaches 162 Wh/kg, which translates into a weight energy density of 160.7 Wh/kg at the level of the battery pack.

Energy density is an important indicator of battery performance, which is the average unit volume or mass of electrical energy released by a battery.

Due to the fact that the range of new energy vehicles mainly depends on the available electricity and overall vehicle energy consumption (range capacity=available electricity/energy consumption), the maximum single driving range of new energy vehicles is mainly determined by the energy density of the battery, provided that the same energy consumption remains unchanged and the battery pack volume and weight remain strictly limited.

 

So, what is the global position of the energy density of ONE's battery pack?

According to a global list of battery packs with the highest and lowest energy density produced by Battery Design, the leader comes from NIO Motors in China. The battery pack for the upcoming installation of the NIO ET7 has a capacity of 150-kilowatt hours, a weight of 575 kilograms (1268 pounds), and an energy density of 260.9 Wh/kg. According to the user manual from NIO Automotive, this battery uses a high nickel ternary positive electrode and a semi-solid electrolyte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next is the Kirin battery from the Ningde era, which uses a high nickel ternary positive electrode material and has a maximum weight energy density of 255Wh/kg.

The weight energy density of the 82 kWh battery pack on Tesla Model 3 and Model Y is 171 Wh/kg, using ternary cylindrical lithium-ion batteries supplied by Panasonic from Japan. The Porsche Taycan 2019 Turbo S derivative has a 93.4-kilowatt-hour battery pack, weighing 630 kilograms (1389 pounds), and uses a ternary lithium soft pack battery provided by LG New Energy from South Korea. The battery pack has a weight and energy density of 148.3 Wh/kg.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For BYD's blade batteries, they also use a lithium iron phosphate material system. The BYD Han EV has a battery pack capacity of 85.4 kilowatts and weighs 592 kilograms (1305 pounds). At the battery pack level, the weight energy density is 144.2 Wh/kg.

BYD's Dolphins have two battery packs to choose from. The maximum charge is 44.9 degrees, with a mass of 308.6 kg, or 680 lb, and a weight energy density of 145.5 Wh/kg. The battery pack of seals has a higher weight and energy density. Its CTB structure allows the battery pack to weigh 558 kilograms (1230.2 pounds), have a capacity of 82.56-kilowatt hours, and have a weight energy density of 148 Wh/kg.

It can be seen that compared to BYD's lithium iron phosphate blade battery, ONE's battery products even have more advantages. One also stated that compared to ternary lithium batteries, Aries II batteries are 25% cheaper in cost and have longer battery life.

However, the battery packs produced by ONE will not be put into production until the end of 2024. There is currently no news indicating which car company's model will be equipped with this battery. The only company to be informed that they will use ONE product is Bollinger, a new automotive force in the United States, but the company will use Aries battery products instead of Aries II.

 

According to reports, Aries batteries are suitable for Level 3 to Level 6 trucks with 3000 battery cycles, while Aries II is suitable for passenger cars and light trucks, but its durability has been reduced by 33.3% with 2000 cycles.

However, ONE's advantage over its competitors lies in localized production. This will make any car that uses its product and complies with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) eligible for full tax credit. In addition, it is also a battery company of its own in the United States.

It is understood that ONE will produce these lithium iron phosphate batteries in Van Buren Town, Michigan, near the automotive factories of Ford, General Motors, and Stratus.

 

The ONE company may seem unknown, but in reality, it has a lot of potential. In July 2020, former engineer Ijaz of the bankrupt A123 battery company in the United States founded this energy company called "Our Next Energy". Nearly one-sixth of One's 315 employees are former employees of A123, including the Chief Operating Officer.

Ijaz's goal is to operate a company focused on lithium iron phosphate batteries, thereby addressing the three major obstacles to the large-scale use of electric vehicles in the United States: mileage anxiety, battery safety issues, and the lack of battery giants to compete with Ningde Times, LG, and Panasonic.

Currently, One has raised $355 million from investors, including Bill Gates's Breakthrough Energy Ventures, BMW Ventures, and Franklin Templeton, with a company valuation of $1.2 billion. Last autumn, the Michigan government granted one company at least $220 million in cash and tax breaks to build a $1.6 billion battery manufacturing factory located in suburban Detroit, with plans to start production in 2024.