Chinese battery manufacturer and automaker BYD will release its second-generation blade battery based on lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) technology in August, Kallanish learns from the company. 

The major upgrade in the upcoming product is on the cell-to-pack energy density, which is expected to reach 190 watt-hours/kilogram. 

In a statement, BYD’s chairman Chuanfu Wang disclosed the second-gen blade battery offers the same driving range. However, it has a smaller volume, lighter weight and the electricity consumption per hundred kilometres is also lower. “This second-gen blade battery can help battery electric models to boost their China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) mileage range to exceed 1,000 km,” he adds.

The cell’s energy density is about 220 Wh/kg. Compared with lithium iron phosphate, the voltage of LMFP can be increased by 15-20%. However, a current problem is obtaining the appropriate electrolyte and electrode coating to prevent extreme corrosion during charge and discharge cycles.

This year, Chinese leading battery companies Gotion High-tech and CATL are also launching LMFP batteries. The expected energy density of their respective battery packs are 190 Wh/kg and 210-230 Wh/kg.

BYD’s upcoming new product is also slated to compete with Nio’s semi-solid-state batteries, which are under production and said to have an energy density of 360 Wh/kg.  

The blade battery name relates to its structure, as individual cells are arranged in a blade shape within the battery pack.