China's CATL announced that they will release 'M3P battery' with new positive active material technology next year.
CATL is adopting newly developed material to their M3P battery, which will have higher energy density than their regular LFP battery, and cheaper than ternary(NCM·NCA and other) batteries. CATL has already started the mass production of their M3P battery, and are planning to supply to their customers by next year.
Although the company did not disclose a specific active material for the M3P battery, they are using the olivine structure of LFP as the basic lattice structure. In addition, they applied a technology to replace iron by doping with two metal elements including magnesium·zinc·aluminum.
In order to increase stability of charging and discharging cycles, it is known that the principle of generating a ternary material from a phosphate is used. CATL developed M3P batteries mainly for electric vehicles with a driving range of 700 km or more.
An official from CATL said “M3P synthesis process is based on lithium·manganese·iron phosphate processes, however, it is way more mature and suitable for mass production. The material is way cheaper than high-nickel ternary battery and suitable for low and high temperature operation.”
CATL is also known to have recently developed lithium·manganese·iron phosphate (LMFP), which is an advanced LFP, and have already passed various tests. The energy density of the new LMFP battery is up to 230Wh/kg, which is 15-20% higher than that of the LFP battery, but it is known that the price is similar to that of the LFP.
By Staff Reporter Tae-jun Park (gaius@etnews.com)