Lithium iron phosphate battery

The lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO
₄ battery) or LFP battery (lithium ferrophosphate) is a type of lithium-ion battery using lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO
₄) as the cathode material, and a graphitic carbon electrode with a metallic backing as the anode. Because of their low cost, high safety, low toxicity, long cycle life and other factors, LFP batteries are finding a number of roles in vehicle use, utility-scale stationary applications, and backup power.^[7] LFP batteries are cobalt-free.^[8] As of September 2022, LFP type battery market share for EVs reached 31%, and of that, 68% were from EV makers Tesla and BYD alone.^[9] Chinese manufacturers currently hold a near-monopoly of LFP battery type production.^[10] With patents having started to expire in 2022 and the increased demand for cheaper EV batteries,^[11] LFP type production is expected to rise further and surpass lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC) type batteries.^[12]

The specific energy of LFP batteries is lower than that of other common lithium-ion battery types such as nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA). As of 2024, the specific energy of CATL's LFP battery is claimed to be 205 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) on the cell level.^[13] BYD's LFP battery specific energy is 150 Wh/kg. The best NMC batteries exhibit specific energy values of over 300 Wh/kg. Notably, the specific energy of Panasonic's "2170" NCA batteries used in Tesla's 2020 Model 3 mid-size sedan is around 260 Wh/kg, which is 70% of its "pure chemicals" value. LFP batteries also exhibit a lower operating voltage than other lithium-ion battery types.