Summary
General Motors developing mixed-chemistry battery packs for electric vehicles
GM’s patent filing discusses combining nickel manganese cobalt with lithium iron phosphate among other chemistries
Batteries will be split into modules with potentially different usable capacities
The mixed-chemistry pack aims to balance performance and cost by combining cheaper LFP cells with NCM cells
Other automakers such as BMW, CATL, and Mercedes-Benz are also working on mixed-chemistry battery packs.
Article
General Motors is joining other automakers and battery companies in developing mixed-chemistry battery packs for electric vehicles. In a patent filing published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on November 28, 2024, GM outlined its version of this concept. The automaker is looking to combine nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) or similar chemistries. These two chemistries would be split into discreet modules with potentially different usable capacities, and a controller would monitor factors like temperature and state of charge.
The goal of these mixed-chemistry packs is to balance performance and cost by combining cheaper LFP battery cells with NCM cells, which offer higher power and energy density. However, combining two different chemistries can lead to a charge imbalance that reduces the usable capacity of a battery pack. GM hopes that the ability to bypass one set of cells while charging another will address this issue. This could lead to smaller battery packs that charge faster and make electric vehicles more practical.
BMW has also announced plans to use mixed-chemistry battery packs in their iX prototype. Our Next Energy (ONE), a U.S. startup, demonstrated in 2022 how mixed-chemistry technology could extract 600 miles of range from a BMW iX, nearly doubling its EPA range. This shows the potential for mixed-chemistry battery packs to significantly improve the range and performance of electric vehicles. Mercedes-Benz has also developed hardware that could pave the way for using mixed cell types in their vehicles.
Other companies like CATL are also working on mixed-chemistry battery packs. CATL has announced a mixed-chemistry pack aimed at bringing faster charging to plug-in hybrids. This technology could enable smaller, more efficient battery packs that counteract the current trend of pack inflation, which adds cost, weight, and consumes more raw materials. By combining specialized cells that charge faster with slower-charging commodity cells, EVs could become more practical and cost-effective in the future.
Overall, mixed-chemistry battery packs have the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by improving performance, range, and cost-effectiveness. General Motors, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and other companies are exploring this technology to create more efficient and sustainable electric vehicles. By combining different chemistries and utilizing advanced control systems, EV manufacturers can address the limitations of current battery technology and make electric vehicles a more viable option for consumers.
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