Iron phosphate battery technology of the type that Tesla uses in its base Model 3, or that are used in popular power plants like the Anker SOLIX F1200, is proving to be a viable way to address many complaints concerning electric cars, apart from their price.
Geely’s new LFP battery cell is a good example: not only does it offer an energy density of 192 Wh/kg, it also has a lifespan of 50 years, can be recharged to 80% in less than 20 minutes and loses very little capacity in cold weather.
The Aegis Short Blade Battery maintains performance for 3,500 charge cycles, or approximately one million miles, overcoming the high internal resistance typical of long blade batteries of the type used by BYD supplies to Tesla.
Geely claims its LFP battery will be a boon to the used electric car market, as EVs could last more than 600,000 miles with minimal capacity loss. That’s a lifespan of about 50 years based on the average distance motorists drive in a year.
In addition, the new carbon nanotubes and improved cover film that Geely uses to accelerate the movement of lithium ions have also enabled a very fast charging time of 17 minutes to take the battery from 10% to 80% charge.
Another cumulative effect of the faster ion transfer is that the Aegis Short Blade Battery loses only 10% instead of 20% of its runtime in extremely cold weather. The Aegis Short Blade Battery is a fast-charging battery, similar to the fast-charging LFP cell developed by CATL last year.
As the world’s largest battery manufacturer, CATL also aims to provide EV batteries that can last a million kilometers and has even partnered with NIO on issues such as 15-year warranties for EVs.
Geely’s new LFP cells, however, will first be used in its own Galaxy E5 SUVs, before being distributed to other potential customers.
To ensure the longevity of the new short-blade LFP battery, Geely subjected it to extreme test scenarios. It was subjected to open flames, pierced by nails, overturned, submerged in corrosive seawater and driven in freezing weather.
Geely’s heat-resistant separator and self-healing electrode technology have passed all the torture tests with flying colors, paving the way for electric vehicles with a 50-year battery life.
