EV range could increase by 20% with new LMFP battery breakthrough

UK-based battery technology company Integrals Power has unveiled the next-generation Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active materials for battery cells that could potentially increase the range of electric vehicles (EVs) by up to 20%, or allow manufacturers to reduce battery size and weight.

The breakthrough enables cathode materials to support higher voltages and improved energy density, thereby boosting EV performance. The innovative LMFP cathodes combine the affordability and durability of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) with the higher energy density found in more expensive Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM) technologies.

Addressing a challenge

Integrals Power claims its LMFP materials boast a manganese content of 80% which is significantly higher than the 50-70% seen in competing technologies. By leveraging its specialized materials technology and patented manufacturing processes, the company has circumvented the long-standing challenge of maintaining specific capacity with increase in manganese content. This signals a notable innovation in the battery sector.

The higher manganese concentration deployed by the company permits materials to reach a specific capacity of 150 mAh/g and operate at a voltage of 4.1V, compared to the 3.45V usually seen in traditional Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cells. According to Behnam Hormozi, founder and CEO of Integrals Power, the automotive industry has long aimed to increase manganese levels in LMFP cells while maintaining energy density.

“The challenge that the automotive industry has been trying to overcome for some time is to push up the percentage of manganese in LMFP cells to a high level while retaining the same specific capacity as LFP. Using traditional methods, the more manganese you add, the more specific capacity drops, and this has meant it can’t deliver a high energy density,” Hormozi said in a statement.

Better EVs for future

Independent testing by the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) has verified these results in coin cell configurations. Furthermore, additional evaluations are underway using pouch cells that better reflect the battery formats used in EVs . This comprehensive validation process highlights the potential of Integrals Power’s LMFP materials to improve performance metrics in real-world applications.

He further added that, with the third-party evaluation from the Energy team at GEIC, Integrals Power has developed a “world-class cell material in the UK that can compete with NCM in performance while being more sustainable and affordable, helping to accelerate the transition to e-mobility.” The company will produce high-performance LMFP cathode materials at its new facility, along with its proprietary LFP chemistry.