UK-based advanced battery materials firm Integrals Power has announced a breakthrough in battery technology that could boost the range of electric vehicles (EVs).
QinetiQ, a global testing and research company, has conducted tests on Integrals Power’s new Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material.
“I am thrilled to announce that QinetiQ validates Integrals Power LMFP (80% Manganese) cathode material performance for commercial battery cells,” said Behnam Hormozi, CEO and Founder of Integrals Power.
The results show that batteries using this material maintain a much higher percentage of their capacity under high discharge conditions compared to conventional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries.
“The collective results, provided by customers and QinetiQ, demonstrate the material’s ability to deliver high performance without compromising durability – attributes essential to demanding applications such as EV,” highlighted the CEO.
Addressing limitations of traditional LFP batteries
Traditional LFP batteries offer advantages in safety and lifespan, but they are known to experience a reduction in usable capacity when subjected to high power demands.
These demands can occur during activities like sustained highway driving, rapid acceleration, or in specialized applications such as electric mining vehicles.
Essentially, the battery’s ability to deliver its full stored energy is diminished when it’s being discharged quickly.
QinetiQ’s tests revealed that the LMFP cells retained 99% of their original capacity at a 2C discharge rate (equivalent to a 30-minute discharge time), 95% at 5C (12-minute discharge time), and even an impressive 60% at an extreme 10C (6-minute discharge time).
“Validated at C-rates up to an extreme 10C, the tests found that at 5C, the LMFP material retained 92% of its original capacity, and at 2C, 99%. Even at 10C, which is far beyond the limits of any use case, the retained capacity achieved 60%,” asserted Hormozi.
Promises better performance, long range
This latest development follows earlier third-party testing that confirmed Integrals Power’s success in incorporating a high Manganese content (80%) while maintaining nearly 150 mAh/gr specific capacity.
“This allows our LMFP material to offer boosted energy density of up to 20% compared to conventional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP),” added Hormozi.
Integrals Power’s LMFP material offers a compelling alternative to both LFP and Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) batteries.
It promises a better balance of high performance, long-range, and extended lifespan than LFP.
Moreover, it is less expensive and requires fewer critical minerals than NCM, which could lead to lighter and more affordable EV batteries.
Breaking out of decades-long approach
The QinetiQ tests were conducted on pouch cells using Integrals Power’s LMFP material, standard commercial-grade graphite anodes, and liquid electrolytes.
“Each cell was tested at an electrode loading of 2mAh/cm2,” remarked Hormozi.
Notably, samples of the LMFP material are currently being evaluated by customers in the energy storage and EV sectors.
This new technology could pave the way for EVs with significantly longer real-world ranges or smaller, less expensive battery packs.
“This development will redefine the standard for battery production and performance as it is significant to break out of the decades-long incremental approach to developing an optimized battery,” concluded the company.