Common Motors is following a handful of different automakers and battery companies 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 related chemistries.
Common Motors Ultium batteries
The 2 chemistries can be break up into discreet modules, probably with totally different usable capacities, in response to the submitting. A controller would monitor components equivalent to temperature and state of cost, and probably bypass one chemistry or one other in a given scenario.
A mixed-chemistry pack may stability efficiency and price by combining cheaper LFP battery cells with NCM cells, which supply larger energy and power 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 skill 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 corporations are engaged on mixed-chemistry battery packs. CATL not too long ago introduced one aimed 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—almost doubling its EPA vary. Mercedes-Benz has additionally developed {hardware} that would lay the groundwork for blended cell varieties.