The Chinese electric car BAIC EX3 was recently upgraded and is now powered by a NCM battery made by Guoxuan with an energy density of 200 Wh/kg. This is the most energy dense battery pack to power a mass produced electric car. Guoxuan is already known to produce the most energy dense cobalt-free LFP (LiFePO4) batteries, now this Chinese battery cell maker - partly owned by Volkswagen - proves that it can also make extremely energy dense NCM batteries.

In France the Dacia Spring will soon be available to pre-order in three versions. Moreover, the now final WLTP ratings have slightly improved from previous estimations, the range increased from 225 to 230 km. With the All-New Dacia Spring makes electric mobility accessible to all and for all uses. Mainly urban car with SUV look, Spring is a 100% electric car. With generous roominess for 4 adults, Dacia Spring has a driving range of 230 km WLTP (305 km WLTP City). 

Guoxuan is a Chinese battery cell maker known for producing the most energy-dense cobalt-free LFP (LiFePO4) battery cells. Late last year this manufacturer reached a record-breaking energy density of 212 Wh/kg for a LFP battery cell, made with a LFP cathode and a silicon anode. Now, Guoxuan is providing more details about this pouch battery cell. Battery cell specs Capacity: 55 Ah Voltage: 3,2 V Energy: 176 Wh Weight: 830 g Energy density: 212 Wh/kg Moreover, Guoxuan has the goal of reaching 230 Wh/kg already during this year and 260 Wh/kg in 2022.

NFA may soon join LNMO and LFMP as a promising cobalt-free cathode chemistry for EV batteries. Highlights Introducing a new class of cobalt-free, nickel-rich layered cathode (LiNixFeyAlzO2). Our cobalt-free cathode powders were synthesized using co-precipitation process. Our cobalt-free cathodes delivered high capacities ~190 mAh/g at 0.1C. We also fabricated a 0.5 Ah (C/3) cobalt-free Li-ion battery pouch cell. The cobalt-free battery delivered good capacities and cycling performance.

Lithium Australia subsidiary VSPC developed a new cobalt-free LFMP battery cell. LFMP is the high-voltage version of LFP (LiFePO4) and is expected to become its successor. Let’s see some highlights of the press release. VSPC – developing the ‘safe’ lithium-ion battery HIGHLIGHTS Safety and cost are driving lithium-ion battery (‘LIB’) technology in the direction of lithium ferro phosphate (‘LFP’). LFP and its derivatives provide far more duty cycles than competing nickel- and cobalt-based LIBs. The addition of manganese to LFP (producing ‘LMFP’) improves LFP energy density while retaining its superior attributes. Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT) 100%-owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd (‘VSPC’) has successfully produced LMFP cathode powders that demonstrate improved performance. Overview VSPC has made significant progress towards improving the energy density of LFP LIB cells by adjusting its proprietary manufacturing processes to incorporate manganese into the cathode active material during production.

Changan Benben E-Star is a cute small electric car currently available with a NEDC range of 301 km and a 32,2 kWh NCM battery with generous warranty (300.000 km or 10 years). The good news is that recent MIIT’s documents show a new homologated version with a cobalt-free LFP (LiFePO4) battery. However, it’s not clear if this electric car will soon have two battery options, or become available only with a LFP battery.

SOL or Sihao in Chinese is a car brand launched by JAC-Volkswagen’s joint venture for affordable electric cars. Volkswagen originally planned to call the brand SEAT, but the Chinese government didn’t allow it. After some deliberations they decided to go with SOL, which means sun in Spanish (also in Portuguese). SOL recently unveiled three new electric cars, the E10X, E20X and E40X at the Guangzhou Auto Show. Sihao is one of the thirteen brands of Volkswagen. Since June 2020, the strategic joint venture between Volkswagen Group and Jianghuai Automobile Group has been fully launched. After Volkswagen has acquired 50% of the shares of Jianghuai Automobile Group, it has followed Volkswagen Global Electric The development of new energy products, channel construction, and brand promotion of Sihao New Energy have been accelerated.

While cylindrical and prismatic battery cells already heavily rely on standardized dimensions, pouch cells are still a mess and made in a wide variety of sizes. The main advantage of using battery cells with standardized dimensions is that it enables automakers to use multiple battery suppliers and prevent battery supply constraints. For battery cell makers, it enables them to focus in fewer products and increase production efficiency. LG Chem had previously made battery cells in a variety of lengths depending on customer orders. This was one of its strengths thanks to it making pouch batteries that can accommodate this diverse lengths. But this also led to constant readjustment of its production line depending on customer’s size requirements. These adjustment periods would last around a month and halt lines.

Currently the most popular electric car from SGMW (SAIC-GM-Wuling) is definitely the Wuling Hong Guang MINI EV, as you may have noticed from multiple articles I wrote. However, the reality is that this is a very spartan electric car without basic safety features required by European or North American standards. The much better equipped electric cars Baojun E300 (two-seater) and Baojun E300 Plus (four-seater) also built by SGMW have much better chances to become world-class affordable electric cars.

The prices of the new all-electric FIAT 500 in Germany and Portugal are finally available. Let’s see the prices before any government subsidies in different countries and compare them. New FIAT 500 trim-levels The trim-levels listed below are ordered by price, from the cheapest (Action) to the most expensive (La Prima). La Prima (The First), as the name suggests is the limited edition that came first, better equipped and more expensive.

Only behind CATL and BYD, Guoxuan High-Tech Power Energy is China’s third biggest battery cell maker with an annual production capacity expected to reach 28 GWh already this year - enough for more than half-million (560.000) battery packs with 50 kWh each. Recently the giant German automaker Volkswagen acquired 26 % of Guoxuan’s parent company Gotion that is now preparing for a fast growth. Not only in production capacity, but also in technological advancements.

In this article I’ll show you how easy it’s to estimate the on-board charger efficiency of an electric car by using WLTP ratings. I’ll use WLTP ratings in this article, but you can also use EPA or NEDC ratings, since they also measure plug-to-wheels consumption, this means that they include charging losses. It’s important to notice that for measuring the consumption the charging was made by using a domestic socket at low current (10 A) and some on-board chargers are not very efficient at low currents.