Summary
- Apple and BYD collaborated around 2017 to develop long-range power batteries using LFP cells
- The technology was highly customized for the cars Apple was planning to produce
- Apple brought expertise in advanced battery packs while BYD contributed manufacturing techniques
- Apple eventually backed away from the partnership due to delays and the economics of the EV business
- BYD has become the world’s largest NEV maker and second-largest power battery maker, with rapid growth in its battery business
Article
Apple and BYD collaborated on developing long-range power batteries using LFP cells for electric vehicles before Apple abandoned its car project earlier this year. The partnership began around 2017, with Apple bringing expertise in advanced battery packs and thermal management, while BYD contributed manufacturing techniques and advancements in LFP cells. While Apple does not own any of the technology used in BYD’s current blade batteries, the partnership demonstrated its efforts to produce cars. The highly customized technology would have fit the cars Apple was planning to build.
BYD’s entire lineup of cars now uses its signature blade battery system, informed by lessons from the collaboration with Apple. Apple had been working on various battery technologies using elements like nickel and alkaline at the time of the partnership. The two companies sought to combine their separate efforts to create a safe, long-range battery system for Apple’s vehicle. However, Apple eventually backed away from the partnership and considered using systems from other battery makers as the entire car project faced multiple delays and economic challenges in the EV business.
Despite the cancellation of its car project, Apple had been investing millions of dollars in battery pack design and engineering to maximize cell usage. The seeds of the partnership with BYD were initially planted a decade ago when BYD engineers showed Apple executives an early version of the blade battery, which impressed them with its safety and energy-storage capabilities. Apple then sought customizations to increase the range of an EV. The economics of the EV business ultimately proved too daunting for Apple, leading to the project’s abandonment.
BYD has since become the world’s largest NEV maker and the world’s second-largest maker of power batteries, with significant growth in sales of NEVs, including BEVs and PHEVs. BEV sales overtook Tesla’s in the fourth quarter of 2023, although Tesla’s global deliveries continued to outpace BYD’s BEV sales. The rapid growth of the NEV business has also resulted in a quick rise in BYD’s battery business, with a strong presence in the global EV battery market. BYD’s EV batteries are primarily used in its own vehicles, with some other models also starting to use them.
In the January-September period of this year, BYD’s NEV sales increased by over 30% year-on-year, cementing its position as a key player in the EV market. The company’s success in the EV business has been supported by its innovative blade battery system and strong partnerships with technology companies like Apple. Despite the challenges faced by the EV industry, BYD has managed to establish itself as a leader in the field, with a growing market share and a focus on sustainable and innovative solutions for electric vehicles.
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