36 Krypton learned from a number of people familiar with the matter that NIO will upgrade the existing 70-degree (kWh) battery pack. The new battery pack uses Lifepo4 Battery, which is expected to achieve a battery capacity of more than 75 degrees. It is planned to be released in the fourth quarter of this year. The significance of this signal is that Lifepo4 Battery is known for its low cost. NIO can use this to reduce costs and impact products in the lower price segment to participate in the competition for a wider market. In 2020, after Tesla was localized, it was precisely by relying on lithium iron phosphate batteries that the price of domestic Model 3 models dropped from more than 300,000 yuan to 249,900 yuan, which also helped Tesla achieve annual sales in the Chinese market exceeding 100,000 yuan. 100,000 results. Xiaopeng Motors also launched lithium iron phosphate models this year, hitting more sales. "The new battery is still supplied by CATL, and B-sample testing is already underway." A source who came into contact with CATL executives revealed to 36氪. The introduction cycle of battery mass production in automobiles is generally about 18 months, and three large rounds of testing and verification of A, B, and C are required throughout the process.
The news of NIO's adoption of Lifepo4 Battery was reported last year, and some media reported that NIO had contracted a lithium iron phosphate production line from the Ningde era. However, based on the official response of Weilai and what 36Kr has learned, this is more of an oolong. This production line of Weilai was originally reserved for Tesla in the Ningde era, and was packaged by Weilai to produce 100-degree battery packs. . The upgraded lithium iron phosphate battery pack may have to open a new production line.
However, although the lithium iron phosphate battery has stable performance and lower cost, the problem is that its upper limit of energy density is low and its performance is impaired in winter.
In response to this news, Weilai responded to 36Kr that the company has researched various types of batteries, and lithium iron phosphate batteries need to solve the problem of poor experience in cold weather in winter.
However, a new improvement is currently taking place in technology: through structural design and material improvement, battery companies have enabled lithium iron phosphate batteries to achieve the same endurance as ternary lithium batteries.
At present, the battery packs circulating in the Weilai system have two capacities of 70 degrees and 100 degrees. The 70-degree battery pack was released as early as the end of 2017. On NIO Day in 2019, NIO released a 100-degree battery pack using CTP technology. If the car owner permanently upgrades from the 70-degree basic version battery pack to the 100-degree battery pack, the cost will reach 56,000 yuan. Weilai has also launched an intermediate solution.
An industry insider analyzed to 36Kr that Weilai's battery upgrade is expected, the original 70-degree battery pack has been difficult to meet the owner's battery life needs, "a 70-degree battery can actually be used at about 65 degrees. There will also be a discount in the northern winter.” Some NIO owners who use 70-degree battery packs also reported to 36Kr that the battery life in Beijing in winter is only more than 200 kilometers.
Weilai also launched an 84-degree battery pack on NIO Day in 2018, using the NCM811 technology of the Ningde era, but the 811 high-nickel battery models in the industry have caught fire one after another. shelved.
Nowadays, the use of lithium iron phosphate batteries clearly sees the balance between performance and cost of this technology.
At present, Weilai is building a set of combination punches. First of all, the launch of lithium iron phosphate batteries will create greater advantages in cost, increase the gross profit margin of the vehicle, and then create room for price reductions.
In addition, some industry sources told 36Kr that Weilai has started the development of a new model in Hefei, which is positioned lower than the existing SUV and sedan models. According to official information, if the Weilai BaaS (battery subscription service) solution is adopted, the minimum price of the vehicle can reach 276,000 yuan. If the lower-positioned models are combined with lithium iron phosphate batteries, Weilai's price range is bound to expand further.
Under the fierce competition in the industry structure, the high-end positioning NIO has also launched a charge signal. And this will set off a wave of storms in the car manufacturing industry and the battery industry.
The ternary lithium battery and the lithium iron phosphate battery are the two main technical routes of the power battery. The two battery names correspond to the positive electrode material of the battery cell. The ternary material in the ternary lithium battery refers to nickel (Ni), cobalt The polymer of three materials (Co), manganese (Mn) or aluminum (Al), also known as NCM and NCA, the number 523 or 811 marked later is the formula ratio of the three materials, while lithium iron phosphate The battery corresponds to a battery product whose positive electrode uses lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) polymer.
The characteristics of ternary lithium batteries are high energy density upper limit, good charge and discharge performance, more cruising range that can be supported, and better performance, so they have become the mainstream choice for electric vehicle companies. However, its shortcomings are relatively poor thermal stability and high cost.
The internal structure of lithium iron phosphate batteries is stable and can withstand high temperature and overcharge. Therefore, the probability of spontaneous combustion is relatively low. Moreover, because lithium iron phosphate batteries do not contain precious metal cobalt, the cost is also lower. Taking the current mainstream purchase price of car companies as an example, ternary lithium batteries are generally 800 yuan per kWh, while lithium iron phosphate batteries can be as low as 600 yuan. about.
However, the disadvantage of lithium iron phosphate batteries is that the upper limit of energy density is low, and the electrochemical activity is low in a low temperature environment, which leads to a significant reduction in battery life and charging efficiency in winter. One of the centralized feedback Tesla received last winter was that the battery life of lithium iron phosphate models in the north had shrunk seriously. Xiaopeng Motors CEO He Xiaopeng also said frankly, "Fe-lithium batteries are more suitable for warm climates."
So, will NIO, which has always adhered to high-end positioning and benchmarked against BBA, compromise on performance? 36 Krypton learned from people familiar with the matter that Weilai will solve the performance loss problem of lithium iron phosphate in winter through technical means.
With the technical difficulties of lithium iron phosphate batteries being gradually overcome, this battery solution has also begun to enter the mainstream of the industry. Zeng Yuqun, chairman of Ningde Times, judged in a dialogue with Shen Nanpeng, the global executive partner of Sequoia Capital, "With the increase of charging piles, the cruising range does not need to be very long, and the growth rate of lithium iron phosphate batteries will be very fast, and it is very cheap. ... In the future, the proportion of lithium iron phosphate will gradually increase, and the proportion of ternary (ternary lithium batteries) will be very small."
The leading car manufacturers, Weilai, Xiaopeng Motors and Ideal Auto, have all raised the price of their models to around 300,000 yuan, but in the long-term strategy, the market coverage will be greatly expanded. And lithium iron phosphate batteries are accelerating this trend.
Li Li Auto stated in the internal letter that future models will cover the price range of 150,000 yuan to 500,000 yuan, and according to 36Kr, Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries are used in Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries for the low-cost models of Li Li Auto. Rate charge and discharge. After the P7, Xiaopeng Motors also launched the lower-positioned Xiaopeng P5. After gradually gaining a foothold in the high-end market, Weilai is also using lithium iron phosphate to grab more markets.
