In today’s society, electric vehicles are more and more favored by people. However, a careful eye will find that the types of batteries used by different electric
vehicles at different prices vary. Why do cheap trams usually use lithium iron phosphate batteries, while more expensive trams tend to use ternary lithium
batteries? Let’s explore the mystery.
First of all, we need to understand the basic characteristics of lithium iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries.
Lithium iron phosphate battery:
1. High safety: the P-O bond in the lithium iron phosphate crystal is stable, so it is not easy to react violently under extreme conditions such as high temperature
or short circuit, reducing explosion, fire and other safety hazards.
2. Longer life: lithium iron phosphate batteries have more charge and discharge cycles, which means that the battery life is longer and the frequency of battery
replacement is reduced.
3. Low cost: The manufacturing cost of lithium iron phosphate material is relatively low, so the battery price is also relatively close to the people.
4. Low energy density: This means that the battery’s range is relatively small.
Ternary lithium battery:
1. High energy density: Due to the high content of nickel, cobalt and manganese in the ternary material, the energy density of the battery is greater, thus
improving the driving range.
2. Faster charging speed: ternary lithium batteries have higher reactivity, so they charge faster.
3. High cost: The price of metals such as cobalt and nickel in ternary materials is higher, resulting in a corresponding increase in battery manufacturing costs.
4. The safety is relatively low: because the elements in the ternary material are more active, violent reactions may occur under conditions such as high
temperature or short circuit, and there are certain safety risks.
Now, we understand the basic characteristics of lithium iron phosphate batteries and ternary lithium batteries. Next, let’s analyze from the aspects of cost,
performance and safety why cheap trams use lithium iron phosphate batteries, and expensive ternary lithium batteries.
Cost:
For more affordable electric vehicles, cost control is crucial. The manufacturing cost of lithium iron phosphate batteries is relatively low, which can better control
the cost of the vehicle. The ternary lithium battery contains more expensive metal materials, and the manufacturing cost is higher. Therefore, in terms of cost
control, lithium iron phosphate batteries have more advantages.
Features:
Although the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries is relatively low, it has a longer life and more charge and discharge cycles. This means that after
the vehicle is used for a period of time, the battery performance decays less, thus extending the vehicle’s driving range. For some high-end, high-performance
electric vehicles, higher energy density and faster charging speed are more important performance indicators. Therefore, ternary lithium batteries are more
competitive in the high-end electric vehicle market.
Security:
Lithium iron phosphate batteries perform well in terms of safety, especially in extreme conditions such as high temperature or short circuit, which is not easy to
react violently, reducing safety risks. For some more expensive electric vehicles, because their target customers have higher safety requirements, it is more
appropriate to choose lithium iron phosphate batteries with relatively high safety. However, with the continuous progress of technology, the safety performance of
ternary lithium batteries is also gradually improving.
To sum up, why do cheap trams use lithium iron phosphate batteries and expensive ternary lithium batteries? Mainly because the lithium iron phosphate battery
has the advantages of low cost, long life and high safety, and is more suitable for the low-end electric vehicle market with strict cost control; The ternary lithium
battery has the advantages of high energy density and fast charging speed, which is more suitable for high-end and high-performance electric vehicle market. Of
course, with the continuous progress of technology and the constant change of market demand, the market share of these two batteries may also change
accordingly in the future.
