Apple’s journey into the electric vehicle sector brought it face-to-face with the innovative BYD Blade battery technology. From as early as 2017, Apple and BYD embarked on a collaborative effort to explore the potential of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, recognized for their safety and cost-effectiveness. The Cupertino team was particularly interested in developing a customized battery pack that would extend range, aligning with their vision for an electric vehicle.
The partnership with BYD, the second-largest global EV and battery manufacturer, was a substantial part of Apple’s ambitious Project Titan, on which it reportedly spent around $10 billion. However, Apple eventually concluded that achieving reasonable profit margins in the electric vehicle industry posed significant challenges. As a result, the company decided earlier this year to discontinue the project and integrate the team into other business areas.
Apple brought its knowledge of custom battery packs and thermal management to the table, while BYD contributed its prowess in LFP battery technology. This collaboration was key in refining the BYD Blade battery, which has become crucial for BYD’s aggressive expansion in the EV market. The Blade battery technology offers a structural battery pack that is not only safer and cheaper but also possesses a higher energy density compared to traditional cell packing methods.
The uniqueness of LFP batteries lies in their use of cost-effective iron phosphate instead of high-priced metals like nickel and cobalt. Although they generally have slightly lower energy density and diminished charging efficiency in cold climates, LFP batteries have been embraced by various automakers, including Tesla, for their advantageous properties such as reduced degradation when charged to full capacity. BYD and CATL have further enhanced these batteries with newer models that approach the energy density of legacy chemistries and exhibit quicker cold-weather charging.
Beyond vehicles, LFP batteries are increasingly popular in energy storage and portable power applications due to their durability and affordability. The Apple Car initiative also delved into other battery chemistries like nickel and alkaline, with the Project Titan team identifying the potential of structural battery packs, which allow for a greater number of cells within the same space—an innovation successfully commercialized by BYD’s Blade technology.
