NMC -vs- LFP Batteries

[JeffVA]

Slate will use NMC batteries and after discovering the differences I don't know why they made that decision. Just to highlight a few concerns:

NMC batteries will generally only charge for up to 2,000 cycles compared to 10,000 cycles for LFP.

NMC batteries should only be charged to 80% (120 mile range now) compared to 100% for LFP Batteries.

NMC batteries are much more expensive than LFP Batteries.

NMC batteries are more prone to thermal degradation then LFP Batteries and result in most EV fires.

LFP Batteries need to be larger than NMC batteries to get the same power but that trade off doesn't seem worth it.

There are other ethical issues with cobalt as well.

So why did Slate choose what appears to be an inferior battery?

 

[MiketheCarGeek]

There is not a supply of LFP Batteries in the U.S. Suppliers like LG Energy, Samsung, Panasonic and SK On (Slate’s supplier) all bet on Nickel Cobalt (NMC, NCA, NCMA) for higher energy density but other drawbacks.

Gotion (Rivian’s LFP supplier) tried to build a plant in Michigan, but it became political. Ford is still moving forward with a plant to make LFP in Marshall MI but people still protest every Saturday because they are licensing a CHINESE design from CATL.