General

It’s been a while since I’ve looked into what LG Energy Solution is doing in terms of battery technologies. First, let’s see the four latest battery cells that LG Energy Solution recently introduced. Then build some hypothetical battery packs with them. LG Energy Solution E101A (NCM) Cell model: E101A Chemistry: NCM/Graphite Capacity: 101,8 Ah Nominal voltage: 3,67 V Energy: 374 Wh Gravimetric energy density: 287 Wh/kg Volumetric energy density: 637 Wh/L Lenght: 580 mm Width: 112,4 mm Thickness: 9 mm Weight: 1,303 kg Production: China and Poland (since 2023) 🔋Battery pack #1

Last year, Leapmotor and Stellantis announced the formation of Leapmotor International, a 51/49 Stellantis-led joint venture between the two carmakers. The French carmaker currently owns around 20 % of the Chinese carmaker. This joint venture gives Stellantis exclusive rights to build, export and sell Leapmotor products outside China. For this reason, Leapmotor International is going to assemble the small electric car T03 at Stellantis plant in Poland. The production is slated to begin as early as the second quarter of this year, utilizing the semi-knocked down technique, wherein partially assembled kits are transformed into fully assembled vehicles.

The Chinese battery maker Gotion unveiled more details on its new LMFP battery cell and pack. Let’s see the press release. New product release:Astroinno L600 battery can achieve a range of 1000km without relying on NCM material At the opening ceremony, Dr. Qian Cheng, the executive president of Gotion Global, announced the company’s latest product, Astroinno L600 battery. Qian Cheng introduced that in order to break through the bottleneck of energy density of LFP battery, manganese doped as called lithium iron manganese phosphate(LMFP) was developed. Gotion has focused on the research and development of LMFP materials for the past decade. By utilizing co-precipitation,doping encapsulation technology, new granulation technology and new electrolyte additives, it has solved the problems of Mn leaching at high temperature, low electrical conductivity and low press density of LMFP batteries.In addition, the Cleveland Institute in Ohio, USA, has developed a new electrolyte for LMFP, which greatly improves the high-temperature cycling and storage performance. Using in-house developed LMFP materials and electrolyte, Gotion has successfully developed Astroinno L600 battery cell.

If you’ve ever wondered which LG Energy Solution battery cells power your Renault Megane E-Tech, then this article is for you. In the PushEVs Telegram channel, I was asked for details on the Renault Megane E-Tech’s battery, so I did some investigative work - as I used to do in the early days of this blog - and discovered that this electric car uses the LG E60 battery cell in a “Low Height Module”, which is available in two versions.

The JAC Yiwei 3 is an electric hatchback in the B-segment that will arrive in June with LFP batteries, but a version powered by a sodium-ion battery is already confirmed to arrive at a later date. Let’s see some known specs of the initial versions. Dimensions: 4.025 mm (length), 1.770 mm (height) and 1.560 mm (width) Wheelbase: 2.620 mm Seats: 5 Motor: 70 and 100 kW Top speed: 150 km/h Range under CLTC: 305, 405 and 505 km (600 km version will come later) Battery type: LFP (LiFePO4) battery by Guoxuan Hi-Tech The price of the initial versions with LFP batteries is expected to start at 100.000 yuan (13.117 euros).

The Wuling Bingo was launched on March 29 in China with a starting price of 59.800 yuan (7.887 euros) and had 522 units delivered in March and 16.383 units in April. This impressive small electric car is a direct alternative to the BYD Seagull. Let’s see some details. Length × width × height: 3.950×1.708×1.580 mm Wheelbase: 2.560 mm Curb weight: 990 kg (lightest version) and 1.125 kg (heaviest version) Tire specifications: 185/60 R15 Seats: 4 Drive motor type: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor Drive motor maximum power: 30 kW (low level version) or 50 kW (high level version) Maximum torque of drive motor: 110 Nm (low level version) or 150 N.m (high level version) Top speed: 100 km/h (limited by firmware) Range under CLTC: 203 km (low level version) and 333 km (high level version) Battery capacity: 17,3 kWh (low level version) and 31,9 kWh (high level version) Battery type: LFP (LiFePO4) battery Fast charging time: 35 minutes from 30 to 80 % (high level version) AC charging: 3,3 kW Starting prices: 58.800 - 83.800 yuan (7.887 - 11.048 euros) Small cars were very popular in Europe before automakers began to force customers into buying more profitable and bigger cars, such as SUVs and CUVs. Hopefully, the A-segment will become popular again with its electrification.

With the Seagull, BYD wants to dominate the electric A-segment market, first in China, then other countries. Let’s see some details of this small electric car. Length × width × height: 3.780×1.715×1.540 mm Wheelbase: 2.500 mm Wheel base front/rear: 1.500 mm Minimum turning radius: 4,9 meters Tire specifications: 165/65 R15 (entry level version) and 175/55 R16 (for mid and high level versions) Seats: 4 (rear seat folds in one piece) Drive motor type: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor Drive motor maximum power: 55 kW Maximum torque of drive motor: 135 N.m 0-50 km/h acceleration time: 4,9 seconds Range under CLTC: 305 km (entry and mid level versions) and 405 km (high level version) Battery capacity: 30,08 kWh (entry and mid level versions) and 38 kWh (high level version) Battery type: module-less LFP (LiFePO4) battery (BYD Blade) Fast charging time: 30 minutes from 30 to 80 % DC charging: 30 kW (entry and mid level versions) and 40 kW (high level version) AC charging: 6,6 kW Wireless keys: bluetooth and NFC Air conditioner: standard Interior and exterior lights: LED, except in the entry level version the headlights are halogen Rear parking sensors: 3 Reversing camera system: standard Cruise control system: standard Vehicle warranty: Lifetime warranty for the electric system (first owner), and the warranty period for the whole vehicle is 6 years or 150.000 kilometers Safety equipment (optional in the high level version)

We finally have the specs for the European version of the BYD Seal. Let’s see the press release. Appealing, dynamic, sporty, technologically advanced full-electric D-segment sedan Available with a highly efficient Blade Battery - 82 kWh with up to 570km range (WLTP) and DC Charging (30-80%) up to 150 kW in just 26 minutes Available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations Advanced Cell-to-Body technology and BYD e-Platform 3.0 for greater efficiency, aerodynamics, power, body rigidity and space utilisation The BYD SEAL will be available around August / September Athletic, sporty, and dynamic, but also intelligent, and equipped with a high-tech DNA, the new BYD SEAL has the looks, power, and intelligence to impress European drivers. The BYD SEAL will be available around August / September.

We finally have the specs for the European version of the BYD Dolphin. Let’s see the press release. All new BYD C-segment hatchback assures stress-free travelling Available with a highly efficient 60 kWh LFP Blade Battery with a 427km range (WLTP) and DC Charging (SOC 30%-80%) in just 29 minutes BYD DOLPHIN makes practical and effective use of the state-of-the-art e-Platform 3.0 High levels of standard equipment and driver technology feature across the BYD DOLPHIN range BYD Dolphin features four trim levels and will be available in LHD and RHD markets The BYD DOLPHIN will be available around June / July BYD, the world’s leading manufacturer of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) and power batteries, announces the presale of the new BYD DOLPHIN. This all-new C-segment hatchback features practicality, efficiency, accessibility and, above all, stress-free travelling as its unique selling points. The BYD DOLPHIN will be available around June / July.

On April 6, the good looking 2023 BYD e2 was officially launched in China with two configurations. The Charming model is priced at 102.800 yuan (13.716 euros) and the Luxury model is priced at 109.800 yuan (14.650 euros). The BYD e2 is a nice electric compact hatchback now part of the Ocean series, that sooner or later is going to get an international version and be exported to Europe and Australia.

World’s biggest battery maker, CATL, has finally started producing battery cells in Europe. Let’s see the press release. Contemporary Amperex Technology Thuringia GmbH (CATT), CATL’s first plant outside of China, has kicked off serial production of lithium-ion battery cells in December as scheduled, marking another milestone on CATL’s global journey. The first batch of lithium-ion battery cells rolled off the newly installed production line under series condition in CATT’s G2 building. The installation and commissioning of the remaining lines are in full swing for the production ramp-up.

The Chinese battery maker CALB and the Portuguese government signed a memorandum on November 2 to launch a battery production plant in the country. While there aren’t much details known yet, it seems that the location chosen was the costal city of Sines, which has Europe’s second largest deep water port capable and a railway system that connects the region to the rest of Europe. The initial phase aims to start battery cell production by the end of 2025 with a anual capacity of 15 GWh. In 2028, a second phase is planned to expand production capacity from 15 to 45 GWh.