Currently NIO sells its electric cars with 70 and 100 kWh battery packs, both options are made with NCM 811 battery cells supplied by CATL.
However, to cut costs and increase production before this year ends, the Chinese automaker will start using the cobalt-free chemistry LFP (LiFePO4) for its entry level battery options.
Moreover, the entry level battery option will have its capacity increased from 70 to 75 kWh.
The LFP battery cells will be supplied by CATL and already have an estimated kWh cost way below 100 euros (80 euros). Therefore, it’s only a matter of time until electric cars compete with ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars in price and availability.
The latest developments of silicon anodes and CTP (cell-to-pack) technology allow modern LFP battery packs to surpass 200 Wh/kg, which means great energy and power density for very low cost.
Anyway, it’s strange that right now only Chinese battery cell makers are developing cobalt-free batteries, all others are still focused only on NCM, NCA and NCMA.
COBRA, the European project to develop cobalt-free batteries will adopt LNMO as its chemistry, but this project is still far from delivering a mass-produced battery.
