Report: BYD to begin production of lithium manganese iron phosphate batteries for EVs in 2015
13 August 2014
Shanghai Metals Market. BYD Auto will begin production of a new high-energy density battery in 2015 and apply them in its vehicles, according to board secretary Wu Jing-sheng, as cited by China’s Securities Times. BYD reportedly plans to add manganese to its lithium iron phosphate cathode material to improve the range of electric vehicles and reduce costs.
As one example of the potential benefit of such a cathode material, Dow Energy Materials (DEM) offers a lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate cathode material (LMFP) which provides a 10 to 15% increase in energy density in battery cells compared to standard lithium iron phosphate cathode material (LFP). (Earlier post.)
The DEM material, which offers the safety and cycle life of iron phosphate chemistries, has an energy density in the 150+ Wh/g range, according to DEM.
I think you mean "150+ Wh/kg" in which case I would send the guys back to the drawing board. The World is looking for at least 300 Wh/kg batteries.
Posted by: Lad | 13 August 2014 at 10:59 AM
No, I think these guys would have done quite enough to qualify for a Nobel prize in chemistry if they could do 150 Wh/g <=> 150000Wh/kg ;-)
Anyway 150Wh/kg at the cell level for a lithium manganese iron phosphate type of battery is a significant improvement. I think A123 had the previous record with about 120 Wh/kg in this area.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 13 August 2014 at 11:47 AM
This may not be a breakthrough but it is interesting to see one of the world major battery manufacturer mass producing high quality lower cost EV batteries.
Posted by: HarveyD | 13 August 2014 at 12:48 PM
Iron phosphate is cheap and BYD builds some of the best electric buses going simply by sticking in a lot of batteries.
It ain't fancy but it works, and simple is often good.
Posted by: Davemart | 13 August 2014 at 03:46 PM
BYD is certainly interesting to watch but it must be an extremely heavy bus, are they selling well in hilly locations? Or only where it is flat?
Lithium iron phosphate? I am not sure that is forefront anymore but it does have some advantages. Not specific energy nor volumetric density perhaps. But some things are easier.
Posted by: Jim McLaughlin | 13 August 2014 at 08:21 PM
They do airport terminal buses for one. LAX demo I believe.
Posted by: TM | 13 August 2014 at 08:42 PM
They do many thousands of buses in some cities in China, and are being trialled in other cities all over the world.
Posted by: Davemart | 14 August 2014 at 02:28 AM
S/be: 'in cities in China.
Posted by: Davemart | 14 August 2014 at 02:33 AM
"the electric bus easily climbed the 14 Freeway grade which has an elevation change of nearly 4,000 feet."
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/08/20140813-byd.html
They can do "hilly".
Posted by: SJC | 14 August 2014 at 09:21 AM