Common Motors is following a handful of different automakers and battery corporations in growing mixed-chemistry battery packs for electrical autos.
GM laid out its model of this idea in a patent submitting printed by the US Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) Nov. 28, 2024. In that doc, which was first filed by GM Aug. 2, 2023, the automaker discusses combining nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) or different comparable chemistries.
Common Motors Ultium batteries
The 2 chemistries could be cut up into discreet modules, doubtlessly with totally different usable capacities, in accordance with the submitting. A controller would monitor elements similar to temperature and state of cost, and doubtlessly bypass one chemistry or one other in a given scenario.
A mixed-chemistry pack may steadiness efficiency and price by combining cheaper LFP battery cells with NCM cells, which provide increased energy and vitality density, GM notes within the submitting. Two totally different chemistries can result in a cost imbalance that cut back the usable capability of a battery pack, GM provides, however the automaker hopes capacity to bypass one set of cells whereas charging one other will handle that.
BMW iX prototype to make use of Our Subsequent Power mixed-chemistry battery pack
Sure chemistries can be charged quicker, which may allow smaller battery packs and counteract present pack inflation, which provides value and weight, consumes extra uncooked supplies, and in the actual world nonetheless typically results in longer charging occasions as soon as that added cost is exhausted. Combining a few of these specialised cells with slower-charging commodity cells may assist make EVs extra sensible.
Different firms are engaged on mixed-chemistry battery packs. CATL lately introduced one geared toward bringing quicker charging to plug-in hybrids, and U.S. startup Our Subsequent Power (ONE) confirmed in 2022 the way it may use mixed-chemistry tech to extract 600 miles of vary from a BMW iX—practically doubling its EPA vary. Mercedes-Benz has additionally developed {hardware} that might lay the groundwork for combined cell sorts.