SVOLT unveils interesting data on its cobalt-free batteries (update)

Great news today!

SVOLT just unveiled very interesting data about its cobalt-free EV batteries. There are four different cells and two different platforms for different purposes.

The Chinese battery cell maker proposes two platforms, one optimized for cost (E-platform) and other optimized for range (H-platform).

Let’s see the data!

E-platform (LFMP cathode is my guess)

My guess is that this economic platform uses the high-voltage version of LFP (LFMP) cathode chemistry. While LFP cells have a nominal voltage around 3,2 V, LFMP operates at 17 % higher voltage (3,75 V).

These battery cells are VDA compatible (148 mm of length).

• Usage: mid-range electric cars
• Cycle life: 4.000 cycles
• Gravimetric energy density: 20 % higher than LFP (above 200 Wh/kg)
• Capacities: 90 and 115 Ah
• Cost: 17 % cheaper than LFP (less than 60 euros per kWh)
• Debut: 2021

LFMP battery cell (90 Ah)

• Capacity: 90 Ah
• Voltage: 3,75 V
• Energy: 337 Wh
• Length: 148 mm
• Height: 102,5 mm
• Thickness: 39 mm
• Volume: 0,591630 L
• Volumetric energy density: 570 Wh/L

LFMP battery cell (115 Ah)

• Capacity: 115 Ah
• Voltage: 3,75 V
• Energy: 431 Wh
• Length: 148 mm
• Height: 112 mm
• Thickness: 52 mm
• Volume: 0,861952 L
• Volumetric energy density: 500 Wh/L

Hypothetical battery pack 1 (90 Ah)

• Cell disposition: 96s1p
• Capacity: 32,4 kWh (96 x 3,75 V x 90 Ah)
• Voltage: 360 V
• Cost: below 3.000 euros (active and passive material)

Hypothetical battery pack 2 (115 Ah)

• Cell disposition: 96s1p
• Capacity: 41,4 kWh (96 x 3,75 V x 115 Ah)
• Voltage: 360 V
• Cost: below 4.000 euros (active and passive material)

H-platform (LNMO cathode)

This is the high-end platform that uses the LNMO cathode chemistry. The 115 Ah battery cell (220 mm of length) is compatible with Volkswagen’s MEB platform.

• Usage: mid and high-range electric cars
• Cycle life: at least 3.000 cycles
• Gravimetric energy density: 235-245 Wh/kg
• Capacities: 115 and 226 Ah
• Cost: 8-12,5 % cheaper than NCM (less than 90 euros per kWh)
• Debut: 2020 (in-vehicle testing is already underway)

LNMO battery cell (115 Ah)

• Capacity: 115 Ah
• Voltage: 3,81 V
• Energy: 438 Wh
• Length: 220 mm
• Height: 102,5 mm
• Thickness: 33,4 mm
• Volume: 0,753170 L
• Volumetric energy density: 582 Wh/L
• Weight: 1.788 g (estimation)
• Gravimetric energy density: 245 Wh/kg

LNMO battery cell (226 Ah)

• Capacity: 226 Ah
• Voltage: 3,81 V
• Energy: 861 Wh
• Length: 574 mm
• Height: 118 mm
• Thickness: 21,5 mm
• Volume: 1,456238 L
• Volumetric energy density: 591 Wh/L
• Weight: 3.664 g (estimation)
• Gravimetric energy density: 235 Wh/kg

Hypothetical battery pack 1 (115 Ah)

• Cell disposition: 96s1p
• Capacity: 42 kWh (96 x 3,81 V x 115 Ah)
• Voltage: 366 V
• Weight: 202 kg (estimated with a GCTPR of 85 %)
• Cost: below 5.000 euros (active and passive material)

Hypothetical battery pack 2 (226 Ah)

• Cell disposition: 96s1p
• Capacity: 82,7 kWh (96 x 3,81 V x 226 Ah)
• Voltage: 366 V
• Weight: 414 kg (estimated with a GCTPR of 85 %)
• Cost: below 9.000 euros (active and passive material)

In CTP (cell-to-pack) batteries, the GCTPR (gravimetric cell-to-pack ratio) is higher than in batteries that use modules.

Great Wall's #Fengchao presents its free-cobalt #EV #battery, #China media reports.
Fengchao to offer 4 types of batteries that enable R=300-800 km at 8%-17% cheaper cost, 50% longer life cycle and 1.7%-20% higher density vs LFP and NMC counterparts, company claims. pic.twitter.com/ovxQ7SwoEs

— Moneyball (@DKurac) September 29, 2020

Summing up, with the mass production of cobalt-free batteries for electric cars the ICE age is over.

It’s great to see a battery cell maker focused on cobalt-free battery cells.

While it’s obvious that there’s no future for EV batteries that use cobalt, the dependence on nickel can also be problematic (rising cost). LFP and LFMP are the battery chemistries that can make electric cars finally compete with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) counterparts in volume production and price.

For a while I wondered which major battery cell maker would be the first to mass produce the LFMP chemistry. Now it seems to be SVOLT, unless BYD, Guoxuan and CATL have something hidden in their sleeves…

As previously reported SVOLT is already in-vehicle testing its cobalt-free LNMO batteries.