There are many types of batteries for new energy vehicles. How to choose?
People have a long history of using batteries. Currently, 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 others. Among these, the mainstream batteries are lithium iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries excel in safety and service life compared to ternary lithium batteries but lag 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, they retain more energy compared to ternary lithium batteries. Therefore, household brands and models like BYD, Wuling Xingguang, and Zeekr prioritize lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Ternary lithium batteries offer high energy density, fast charging speed, and good performance at low temperatures. They meet the needs of consumers with high demands for battery performance. Hence, models emphasizing performance and quality, such as Xiaomi SU7 and IM L6, opt for ternary lithium batteries. However, ternary lithium batteries exhibit slightly lower safety and stability compared to lithium iron phosphate batteries, requiring more attention to safety during use and maintenance.
According to different types of batteries, various car companies have introduced power batteries under different names. The author will analyze them one by one.
The Kirin battery is a ternary lithium battery pack from CATL. Its main feature is the use of horizontally arranged square shell ternary battery cells, with a large water cooling plate placed between each row of battery cells. From the 140-degree version of the Zeekr 009 launched in 2023 to the Zeekr 007 and the new Zeekr 001 in 2024, as well as the Ideal MEGA and Xiaomi SU7, all these models 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 characteristic is its supercharging speed of no less than 4C, while prioritizing higher safety and longer life. This makes it more suitable for household models that emphasize reliability and efficiency. The 2024 Zeekr 001 95-degree version and the Xiaomi SU7 Pro version both use Shenxing batteries. They do not aim for the ultimate ultra-fast charging but instead strike a balance between battery life and cost. There is also a Shenxing battery Plus version, which reportedly uses particle grading technology to achieve higher energy density than ternary lithium batteries.
The Blade battery is a lithium iron phosphate battery developed and manufactured by BYD and Geely. Its distinctive feature is its elongated strip shape, significantly enhancing energy density. Being a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, it also ensures good safety. Blade batteries from BYD and Geely are primarily used in their own products, with BYD also supplying batteries to third-party car companies.
The above-mentioned batteries primarily emphasize performance in specific aspects. However, is there a power battery that combines ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate technologies? The answer lies in the Giant Whale battery. Developed jointly by Huawei and CATL, this battery uses a hybrid material consisting of ternary lithium and lithium manganese iron phosphate. By doing so, it leverages the high-performance advantages of ternary lithium batteries and the superior safety characteristics of lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Currently, the AITO M9 is equipped with a 100kWh Giant Whale battery supporting the 800V platform. This battery achieves an energy density of 186.1Wh/kg for the entire package and boasts a maximum charging rate of 3.2C.
In the automotive market, there are numerous power battery products. Apart from the well-known batteries mentioned above, examples include GM's Aote Battery and Wuling's Shenlian Battery. Each power battery product focuses on different performance aspects. When choosing a vehicle, it's essential to consider factors such as battery capacity, cell type, charging rate, and energy density rather than just relying on the battery brand name.