Nissan plans to provide lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries because it appears to decrease EV costs. With cheaper supplies, the batteries are about 20% to 30% cheaper to construct than lithium-ion batteries with NCM. The transfer will put it in direct competitors with BYD, the main LFP battery maker.
Nissan is creating LFP batteries to decrease EV costs
Though Nissan was topped by China’s BYD in passenger automobile gross sales in November, the automaker has a plan to regain its share.
Based on a brand new report from Nikkei, Nissan plans to start putting in cheaper LFP batteries in electrical autos. The EVs shall be offered in rising markets as early as 2026, based on the report.
Though LFP batteries are as much as 30% cheaper to provide than lithium batteries with nickel, cobalt, and manganese (NCM), in addition they have much less power density.
LFP batteries have about 20% to 30% much less driving vary than NCM. Nevertheless, that may very well be appropriate in present areas. Nissan is at present creating the brand new battery tech at its R&D facility in Japan. The report mentions Nissan might construct the LFP batteries in-house at its Yokohama plant, amongst different amenities.
Nissan expects the brand new batteries for use in EVs as early as 2026. It’s at present on the lookout for companions to advance the tech and will import from exterior the corporate.
Based on information from the China Automotive Battery Trade Innovation Alliance, BYD dominated the LFP battery market with a 41.1% market share by way of final November. Rival CATL was second with 33.9% of the share.
BYD’s Blade Battery is supplied on EVs being offered globally. The electrical BYD Seal with BYD Blade has claimed vary of as much as 435 miles (700 km). BYD launched the electrical sedan in Mexico final month, beginning at $44,600 (778,800 pesos).
BYD’s Blade Battery performed a key position in topping Tesla to change into the worldwide EV gross sales chief within the final three months of the yr. The Chinese language automaker offered almost 1.6 million EVs final yr because it expands into new abroad markets. Nissan might take a web page from BYD.
Electrek’s Take
Though it took over a decade for Nissan to launch its second EV, the Ariya, after the LEAF hit the market in 2010, Nissan appears to make up for misplaced time.
Nissan is already behind EV leaders like Tesla and BYD, however the automaker desires to get again on observe.
Nissan’s CEO, Makota Uchidam, stated the corporate wants to scrub out the closet if it desires to stay aggressive.
As a part of its midterm replace, the automaker is getting ready to disclose a brand new EV plan to proper the ship. Uchida stated, “We can’t proceed outdated methods of enterprise from the previous into the longer term.” The brand new technique, anticipated to be launched in March, will handle how Nissan plans to compete with low-cost fashions from China.
Nissan stated it’s going to launch 19 new EVs by 2030, however that might change with a brand new technique coming. Though Ariya gross sales (and manufacturing) are choosing up, cheaper choices might assist Nissan regain competitiveness.
