It’s a lithium manganese rich (LMR) cell chemistry designed for lower-cost and longer-range EVs.
Ford’s top electric vehicle engineer said on Wednesday that the automaker is actively working on a “game-changing” battery chemistry for its future EVs. The breakthrough will reportedly enable low-cost and longer-range Ford EVs by the end of the decade.
Charles Poon, who leads electrified propulsion engineering at Ford, mentioned that his group has created a lithium manganese-rich (LMR) cell chemistry at their Ion Park battery research and development facility in Romulus, Michigan. Currently, Ford is manufacturing a second-generation version of these cells using a pilot production line located in Michigan.
Poon stated on LinkedIn
post
LMR offers multiple benefits over nickel-based alternatives. These include enhanced safety and stability as well as greater energy density, resulting in an extended driving range relative to high-nickel counterparts. Additionally, he mentioned that Ford anticipates “unparalleled” cost reductions, noting this development is crucial for reaching “genuine price equality” with gasoline-driven cars.
Ford’s lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries coming from a pilot production line in Michigan.
“Ford started by offering nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries and later added lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2023. LMR is the answer to ‘what next?'” Poon said. “This isn’t just a lab experiment. We’re actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade,” he added.
Lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials were discovered 30 years ago, according to a study published in the academic journal
Science Direct
. Theoretically, they offer superior energy density and cost advantages due to the elimination of nickel and cobalt, which are both dirty to produce and expensive. LMR cells also offer high working voltage initially.
But that’s where the pros end. Despite the chemistry existing for three decades, it hasn’t been commercialized due to voltage attenuation, which means a substantial loss in voltage over time. LMR also suffers from severe capacity loss, which could lead to reduced driving range and thermal stability degradation, which means the cells may not be safe when the mercury climbs.
As Ford is currently manufacturing these cells using a pilot production line, they could potentially have resolved some of these issues. However, specific information regarding this initiative remains limited at present. Both automotive manufacturers and battery firms generally keep their development strategies closely under wraps, viewing them as confidential assets. Consequently, we might remain uninformed about Ford’s intentions concerning these batteries for an extended period.
Currently, Ford employs an LFP battery in the basic model of the Mustang Mach-E and NMC batteries across the remaining lineup, such as in the E-Transit and F-150 Lightning. The company has several upcoming models, including a compact SUV and pickup truck from their “skunkworks” budget-friendly electric vehicle initiative, along with the development of the next-generation electric truck known internally as T3.
The car manufacturer is concurrently developing extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) variants of their sport utility vehicles, crossover models, and the Super Duty truck. These new chemical compositions are not inherently restricted to a particular kind of vehicle or drivetrain system; they could potentially be utilized in hybrid cars, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), as well as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), based on which option proves to be the most cost-effective solution.
Contact the author:
suvrat
.kothari@Insideevs.com
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