First of all, the historical status of the automotive industry is a historical topic that we cannot avoid. In particular, the electric vehicle industry has developed rapidly in recent years, and under the multiple influence of capital, policies, and subsidies, a vigorous wave of vehicle electrification has been set off in China. At present, the batteries commonly used by domestic and foreign electric vehicle companies are divided into two major categories according to electrochemical composition: lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) and ternary lithium ion batteries (NCM/NCA). Early electric vehicles mostly used lithium iron phosphate batteries, such as the early Roewe e550, BYD Qin, etc. Later, as the subsidy policy was linked to the battery energy density, plus the development of pure electric vehicle products, users’ requirements regarding the range of electric vehicles As well as the development of ternary lithium-ion battery technology, most new energy passenger vehicles on the market are equipped with ternary lithium-ion batteries. This invisibly gives people a very strong feeling that ternary lithium-ion batteries are the future of electric vehicles.
But is this really the case? Through the observation of the recent development of the electric vehicle market, it can be found that electric vehicles are switched from lithium iron phosphate to ternary lithium step by step, and then the process of choosing lithium iron phosphate is reconsidered. The logic behind this can be summarized as follows:
1. In the pre-subsidy era, choices tend to be frenzied
First of all, the development of the electric vehicle industry is largely driven by industry subsidy policies. Among them, the two core factors affecting subsidies are pure electric range and battery energy density. So in the small layout space of passenger cars, how to maximize the selection of large-capacity, high-energy density batteries; how to maximize the use of the limited layout space of the battery; how to maximize the weight of the battery and so on. All point in the same direction, and choose a ternary lithium-ion battery with higher capacity and greater energy density.
The original intention of the subsidy policy is good, but there will always be some problems when the company uses the subsidy. This has also caused some chaos in the current industry: blindly chasing the dividends brought by subsidies and ignoring the processes and principles that the product development itself should follow; greatly shortening the product verification development verification cycle; in the case of immature technical conditions Sacrificing safety in exchange for higher energy density and so on.
With the introduction of many products on the market, various fires and recalls have appeared, which is the appearance of the above-mentioned problems.
2. In the post-subsidy era, choices tend to be rational
Driven by the subsidy policy, the electric vehicle industry is generally developing in a good direction. Whether it is product quality, development-related experience, establishment of a supply chain system, or user awareness, the industry's cultivation and development has achieved a certain degree of maturity. . With the decline of subsidy policies and the gradual weakening of policy dividends, the test of most electric vehicle companies has not really begun. The industry's pursuit of pure electric range and battery energy density is no longer as fanatical as before. Gradually put the focus of technological development on the products that users really want and the company's sustainable development.
Returning to the difference between the ternary lithium-ion battery and the lithium iron phosphate battery at this time, it is like experiencing a vigorous love between the scum man, and suddenly found that the honest people who seemed to be indifferent before seem to be very attractive. . In this fierce competition, as soon as there is a fire accident of an electric car in the market, there is nothing to do. Lithium iron phosphate has higher safety, higher economy, better cycle life, and is naturally chosen by more car companies. , Once again become the mainstream trend.
In the past, the energy density of lithium iron phosphate was criticized. With the improvement of market users' awareness of self-real use scenarios and battery life requirements, as the company's electric vehicle products are being developed to maximize the rational use of vehicle battery layout space, and for example BYD’s blade battery structure optimization and CATL’s CTP concept to increase battery volume utilization have weakened the shortcomings of lithium iron phosphate in pure electric range and energy density to a certain extent.
3. Ultimately, the decision is still in the hands of the market and users. Any product and technology will serve the market and users. Things that no one wants will eventually be eliminated. This is the most basic natural law of survival. As a company, it is the right way to fully understand and grasp the needs of the market and users, develop excellent products, and guide and make choices for users. Moreover, the current market user needs are relatively clear: battery life, safety, and reliability. So, to decompose to the current level of lithium iron phosphate products and ternary products, nothing more than:
(1) For civilian models, operating models, and commercial models: preferably lithium iron phosphate batteries with advantages in life, cost and safety;
(2) For mid- and high-end models and differentiated and branded models: prefer ternary lithium-ion batteries with large capacity, high energy density, and faster charging efficiency.
In the medium and long term, it is the right solution to break through the bottleneck of lithium iron phosphate and ternary technology in terms of raw materials and chemical systems, such as the development of lithium-air batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, and solid-state battery technologies.
