Blade batteries are a novel type of lithium-ion electro-chemical cell. Their unusually thin profile allows automakers to pack more of them in a smaller space. Developer BYD claims they are more robust, and “far less susceptible to catching fire”. So far so good. But how good are they doing a battery’s core job, that being storing and delivering energy? Let’s find out!
How Good Is Blade Battery Performance Really?
A report in Research Gate in June 2023 reports the novel storage battery is superior to traditional lithium-ion in three ways. These benefits include (a) longer lifespan, (b) higher energy density, and (c) improved safety.
This greater energy density, in turn, allows a driving range of up to 375 miles between charging cycles. The blade battery could also continue to operate for up to 750,000 miles, again an improvement over conventional lithium-ion.
The BYD battery product incorporates an onboard thermal management system too. This should be capable of disconnecting the battery if it starts overheating. This all sounds like a great improvement. But what is the ‘secret sauce’ behind this?
How Does the BPD Battery Achieve These Things?
Research Gate explains how the unusual design uses “a series of thin lithium-iron-phosphate sheets that are stacked together like a book shelf”. This arrangement allows greater energy stability, it says, within a more compact and efficient design. But its relative safety is also partly due to the fact the structure “reduces the stress on the battery’s cells”.
The multiple sets of thin lithium-iron-phosphate sheets locate inside slim rectangular metal casings, eliminating traditional cylindrical, or prismatic battery cells. The case also contains an electrolyte solution. Finally, the design readily adapts to demands of individual electric vehicle requirements.
The blade battery is relatively simple to manufacture – and perhaps easier to recycle – compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. Its long-term success may well depend on how easily the concept adapts to novel requirements, as the electric vehicle journey continues.
More Information
Battery Inner Secrets: What’s Going On Inside?
