BYD new Blade battery expected this year

BYD battery subsidiary FinDreams will launch a second-generation version of its Blade battery later this year, possibly in August.

So says CarNewsChina.com, adding that one of the key upgrades in the new battery will be the energy density – expected to reach 190Wh/kg.

The original Blade battery introduced in 2020 revolutionised the EV industry by making cheaper lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries with power densities competitive with nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries.

‘This was done by arranging the individual cells into a blade like arrangement within the battery packs hence the name Blade battery,” says CarNewsChina.com.

“Such an arrangement increased the space utilisation by 50% compared to existing LFP batteries at the time.”

The first-generation Blade battery had an energy density of 140Wh/kg (now 150Wh/kg), says CarNewsChina.com.

BYD chairman Wang Chuanfu revealed development of the new battery during a financial report communication meeting, saying the new Blade battery will have a smaller size and lighter weight for the same endurance, and that power consumption will be reduced per 100km.

Speculation includes the new Blade battery will help EVs exceed 1000km China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC) which may make them competitive with solid-state batteries such as those for Nio.

BYD says the Blade battery is much safer than many other types and the next generation one could help make EVs cheaper.

CarNewsChina says BYD’s fifth generation DM-i plug-in hybrid system should enable cars to achieve a combined range of nearly 2000km.

Meanwhile, Electrek says the Blade battery powers Tesla, Ford, Kia, Hyundai, Toyota, and other popular EVs from major automakers and is a major reason behind BYD’s success, and are in most BYD models such as the Seagull, Dolphin, and Atto 3.