People have a very long history of using batteries. At present, there are many types of power batteries for new energy vehicles, including aluminum-air batteries, lead-acid batteries, ternary lithium batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lithium cobalt oxide batteries, and solid-state batteries. Among these, the mainstream batteries are lithium iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are better than ternary lithium batteries in terms of safety and service life, but they are insufficient in energy density. Additionally, lithium iron phosphate batteries have a longer charge and discharge cycle life. After the same number of charge and discharge cycles, the remaining energy is greater than that of ternary lithium batteries. Therefore, household brands and models such as BYD, Wuling Xingguang, and Zeekr prioritize lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Ternary lithium batteries have the advantages of high energy density, fast charging speed, and good low-temperature performance. They can meet the needs of consumers who have high requirements for battery performance. Therefore, models that focus on performance and quality, such as Xiaomi SU7 and Zhiji L6, prioritize ternary lithium batteries. However, the safety and stability of ternary lithium batteries are slightly worse than those of lithium iron phosphate batteries, requiring more attention to safety issues during use and maintenance.
Various car companies have launched power batteries with different names based on the types of batteries they use. The author will analyze them one by one. The Kirin battery is a ternary lithium battery pack from CATL. Its most notable feature is the use of horizontal square shell ternary battery cells, with a large water cooling plate sandwiched between each row of battery cells. From the 140-degree version of Zeekr 009 launched in 2023, to the Zeekr 007 and the new Zeekr 001 in 2024, as well as Ideal MEGA and Xiaomi SU7, all are equipped with Kirin batteries. However, their battery cell capacity, series-parallel structure, battery pack weight, and energy density vary.
The Shenxing battery, also from CATL, is a lithium iron phosphate battery. Its main characteristic is a supercharging speed of no less than 4C, while maintaining higher safety and longevity, making it more suitable for home models that prioritize reliability and efficiency. The 2024 Zeekr 001 95-degree version and Xiaomi SU7 Pro version are both equipped with the Shenxing battery. These models do not aim for the ultimate ultra-fast charging but instead balance battery life and cost. Reports indicate that the Shenxing battery has also launched a Plus version. Official statements claim that the Plus version uses particle grading technology, and its energy density exceeds that of ternary lithium batteries.
The blade battery is a lithium iron phosphate battery developed and manufactured by BYD and Geely. This battery is characterized by its long strip shape, which significantly improves energy density. As a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, it also offers good safety. BYD and Geely mainly use blade batteries in their own products, and BYD's batteries are also sold to third-party car companies.
The above batteries focus on specific performance aspects. So, is there a power battery that combines the advantages of both ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries? The answer is the Giant Whale battery. This battery is jointly developed by Huawei and CATL. Its battery cell material is neither purely ternary lithium nor lithium iron phosphate, but a mixture of ternary lithium and lithium manganese iron phosphate. This battery material combines the high-performance advantages of ternary lithium and the high-safety advantages of lithium iron phosphate. Currently, the Wenjie M9 is equipped with a 100kWh Giant Whale battery, which supports the 800V platform. The energy density of the whole package reaches 186.1Wh/kg, and the maximum charging rate is 3.2C.
There are many power battery products in the automotive market. In addition to the well-known battery products mentioned above, there are also GM's Aote Battery and Wuling's Shenlian Battery, among others. Each power battery has different performance focuses. When choosing a car, you should select based on your needs. However, compared to the name of the power battery, it is more important to consider the battery capacity, battery cell type, charging rate, and energy density.