Recently, the ninth batch of the "Recommended Models for the Promotion and Application of New Energy Vehicles" was released. Jiangxi Anchi New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Anchi Technology") supplied lithium iron phosphate batteries to FAW Jilin pure electric passenger vehicles, with an energy density of 141.7wh/kg and a range of 301km.
According to GGII (Gaogong Lithium Battery Research Institute), the battery pack supplied by Anchi Technology to FAW Jilin has a single cell specific energy of 180Wh/kg. The technology is currently mature, and depending on the specific market situation, it is expected to be widely used as early as the end of the year.
Coincidentally, Guoxuan High-Tech's lithium iron phosphate single cell has reached an energy density of 180Wh/kg and is currently in the small-batch supply stage.
Analysts at GGII (Gaogong Industry Research Institute for Lithium Batteries) believe that the energy density of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) power batteries is continuously improving, highlighting their cost advantage and significant safety advantages. With the reduction or even complete elimination of subsidies, market demand will be in the hands of consumers, whose primary concern is safety. Therefore, LFP batteries will likely continue to see some application in the passenger vehicle sector in the future.
➤ How to break through the LFP energy density barrier
According to publicly available information, the specific energy of mass-produced square aluminum-cased lithium iron phosphate batteries in 2018 was around 160Wh/kg, while some leading battery manufacturers have already achieved levels of 170-180Wh/kg. Compared to the 140Wh/kg specific energy of mass-produced cells last year, battery companies have made further improvements in energy density this year.
In response, Bai Ke, chief engineer of Anchi Technology, explained that the improvement in energy density is not a one-sided improvement, but a comprehensive optimization and matching of aspects such as cell design, material selection, process matching, and production equipment. At the same time, lightweight design is also carried out on the pack side. The company's key approach is to achieve optimal matching in the selection of materials, find suitable matching points with materials in the process, and introduce some relatively advanced processes.
For example, in terms of positive electrode materials, some improvements have been made in the surface morphology treatment and strength matching of the positive electrode to increase the compaction density of the positive electrode; for the negative electrode, ordinary graphite is still used, but the key is to optimize the formula to increase the content of active materials; the electrolyte and separator have also been optimized and matched.
It is understood that Guoxuan High-Tech and Anchi Technology have similar approaches.
Dr. Li Xinfeng, Vice President of the Battery Research Institute of Guoxuan High-Tech, stated, "In the research and development of lithium iron phosphate batteries, the company has made significant breakthroughs in various aspects, including energy density, safety performance, fast charging capability, low-temperature discharge capability, overcurrent capability, and cell lifespan, by increasing investment in basic materials research, optimizing material system architecture, improving cell design and structural component design, and enhancing the control capabilities of production equipment processing precision."
It is worth noting that, considering the combined effects of efficiency and yield, as energy density increases, there will be more and more bottlenecks in manufacturing, such as difficulties in sheet making, rolling, and liquid injection.
Bai Ke stated, "Based on existing processes and materials, Anchi Technology's goal is to achieve a specific energy of 200Wh/kg for lithium iron phosphate cells by 2020. Future improvements in energy density due to advancements in processes and material innovations are unpredictable."
Guoxuan High-Tech stated that the specific energy of its lithium iron phosphate soft-pack single cell has reached 200Wh/kg in the laboratory, and is expected to be increased to 210-220Wh/kg in the future.
➤ Future Opportunities for LFP in the Passenger Vehicle Sector
Due to the difference in material systems, lithium iron phosphate is not as good as ternary materials in terms of energy density. Starting in 2017, automakers began to replace the lithium iron phosphate batteries commonly used in new energy passenger vehicles with ternary batteries.
However, as energy density increases, the safety performance of ternary lithium batteries faces significant challenges. An industry insider lamented that although it's said the energy safety of ternary lithium batteries has been resolved, many problems still arise in actual operation.
Compared to ternary lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries have advantages in several aspects: safety, price, and cycle life.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that automakers are no longer as aggressively pursuing ternary lithium batteries as before, with companies like JAC Motors and BAIC New Energy actively promoting lithium iron phosphate (LFP) products. Currently, the market is heavily influenced by government subsidies; however, without these subsidies, LFP batteries would have a significant future opportunity in the passenger vehicle market.
Dr. Li Xinfeng of Guoxuan High-Tech also agrees with the above view, stating, "Currently, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries has reached the level of the previous ternary 523 batteries. Once the subsidy policy is gone, considering factors such as safety and cycle life, automakers may be more willing to use lithium iron phosphate batteries."
An unnamed executive from a battery company said that as long as there are subsidies, lithium iron phosphate will have a hard time making its mark in the passenger vehicle market. As subsidies are phased out, lithium iron phosphate will have a higher market share in passenger vehicles than it does now, but the exact percentage is currently uncertain.
