A new Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material developed by Integrals Power has been validated by QinetiQ. The testing shows that the new LMFP material could increase the real-world range of EVs by extending the useable capacity of the battery under high discharge conditions.
Validated at C-rates (high energy discharge rates) up to an extreme 10C, the tests found that at 5C (12 minutes discharge time), the LMFP material retained 92% of its original capacity, and at 2C (30 minutes discharge time), it retained 99% capacity. Even at 10C (6 minutes discharge time), which is far beyond the limits of any use case, capacity retention was an impressive 60%, said the company, noting that QinetiQ was not the only third-party firm to put its LMFP through its paces.
Integrals Power has been focused on pumping up the proportion of manganese in its formula without losing energy density. Before handing the material over to QinetiQ, Integrals took it to other third-party testing firms and received the thumbs-up for a manganese content of 80%, while leaping the energy density hurdle with the delivery of almost 150 mAh/gr specific capacity.
As a result, Integrals Power has demonstrated that its LMFP material can be used to make cells that will enable battery packs to deliver an optimal balance of high performance, long range, and long life that exceeds the capability of Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) but at less cost and less reliance on critical minerals than Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM).
“Together with the proven energy density improvements of up to 20% compared to LFP unlocked by our 80% Manganese content and higher voltage profile of 4.1V, we can demonstrate to our customers around the world that we can enable significant cost and weight reductions, and more compact, more sustainable, and longer-lasting battery pack designs.”
Behnam Hormozi, Founder and CEO of Integrals Power
Qinetiq conducted the tests on pouch cells made using the Integrals Power LMFP material and standard commercial-grade graphite anodes and liquid electrolyte. Each cell was tested at an electrode loading of 2mAh/cm2.
