Following approval from the Ministry of Industry and Technology in China, Tesla will use lithium iron phosphate batteries in the future. The material, also known as LFP, “contain no cobalt – one of the most expensive metals in electric vehicle (EV) batteries”, as according to sources at Reuters.
As it stands, Tesla had been in talks with the company Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd for some time regarding the batteries. Following approval from Chinese authorities, the electric vehicle manufacturer looks to begin using the lithium iron phosphate batteries on vehicles manufactured at its facility in Shanghai.
It’s been quite the year for Tesla’s battery technology. The company appears to be on the verge of some major changes. The new approval for Chinese production hints to a larger shift in the company’s approach both in North America and elsewhere. With Battery Day on the horizon, fans can expect even more news.
Earlier in the year, Tesla patented a new battery cell. While the news went relatively unnoticed, Tesla CEO Elon Musk called it “way more important than it sounds.”
As sources at Electrek report on the new battery approval, there some disadvantages to lithium ion phosphate as well. “The main disadvantage of LFP batteries is their lower-energy density, but CATL, which is believed to be Tesla’s supplier, has made improvements in LFP energy density and longevity.” Furthermore, “In the filing for the new version of the Model 3 with LFP batteries, it shows that the vehicle is a little heavier than its US-made counterpart.”
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